Thales Alenia Space Qualifies Plasma Thruster Power Unit for All-Electric Satellites

Artist’s rendition of Thales Alenia Space’s Spacebus Neo satellite. Photo: Thales Alenia Space

[Via Satellite 03-22-2016] Thales Alenia Space Belgium has qualified its new PPU Mk3 power supply units for plasma thrusters on upcoming all-electric satellites. The recently qualified PPU Mk3 will provide electrical power to the plasma thrusters used for handling orbital positioning and station-keeping on all-electric versions of new telecom satellites.

Thales Alenia Space Belgium developed the new units to reflect customer feedback and changing market requirements. The Belgian subsidiary of French-Italian company Thales Alenia Space developed a new avionics system for satellite power management, improving performance, flexibility and lightness.

The company has already sold 35 previous-generation PPU units for 1.5 to 2.5 kW plasma thrusters to Europe’s three largest manufacturers of telecommunications satellites. The new unit is designed to power thrusters in the 5 kW class, and will be compatible with all plasma thrusters now on the market. Thales Alenia Space Belgium has received 15 PPU Mk3 unit orders for all-electric satellite platforms, including six dedicated in particular to Thales Alenia Space Spacebus NEO satellites.

“Thanks to support from the Belgian government, and within the scope of the European Space Agency’s ARTES program (Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems), we have successfully developed and qualified this new-generation product,” said Patrick Bury, vice president of sales and programs at Thales Alenia Space Belgium.