MEPS (Micro-Satellite Electric Propulsion System) is a three year programme started in 2013, jointly supported by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Israeli Space Agency (ISA) and aimed at the qualification of a propulsion system based on a low power, low cost Hall Effect Thruster (nominal power level 200W).

The system consists of a dual thruster/cathode subsystem, a power processing unit, propellant management assembly, feeding lines and a suitable Xe tank and
is conceived as a 'plug and play' system that can be easily installed on a number of small space platforms. It is intended to provide a prompt, effective response to the market needs, where small platforms can highly benefit from a low-cost, low-mass propulsion system. A suitable solution for drag compensation, orbit maintenance, end-of-life deorbiting and the exploitation of the lower layers of the LEO region, MEPS is going to pave the way to a new class of affordable and capable small space missions

Provision of a space-qualified Hall Effect Thruster (HET) subsystem for low-power space missions.

reference: article

Alta is a leading European small company in the aerospace propulsion sector. We operate in research and development on space electric propulsion, chemical propulsion andaerothermodynamics. Our company provides testing services, high vacuum systems and facilities and space systems design and computational simulation tools. With a successful record of technology transfer cases, we are also active in the energy and industrial plasma sectors.

With propulsion systems suited to a variety of missions - from interplanetary probes to low-cost microsatellites - Alta covers the broadest EP technology range among European companies. Alta’s researchers and engineers make up the largest and most experienced European R&D team working on EP, with know-how and capability in all EP application fields.

• Hall Effect Thrusters
• MagnetoPlasmaDynamic Propulsion (MPD)
• Field Emission Electric Propulsion (FEEP)
• Resistojet Propulsion
• Diagnostics for Electric Propulsion

Alta’s excellence in Electric Propulsion (EP) technologies is demonstrated by a long record of achievements:

• 1974: first European Pulsed Plasma Thruster
• 1980: first European quasi-steady Magneto-Plasma-Dynamic Thruster
• 1994: first European Hall Effect Thruster
• 1999: first integrated FEEP micro-thruster
• 2001: first European high power Hall Effect Thruster
• 2004: first European miniaturized Hall Effect Thruster
• 2005: largest European electric propulsion testing facility