High-Performance Ion Propulsion System for Small Satellites

FOTEC’s electric propulsion systems, based on proprietary Field Emission Electric Propulsion (FEEP) technology, use ionized liquefied metal accelerated from porous tungsten needles to deliver high specific impulse and exceptional precision—ideal for small spacecraft conducting high-accuracy Earth observation. With over 52,600 hours of operation demonstrated in endurance tests, this proven technology forms the foundation of the next-generation ECLIPSE thruster. Developed from the heritage IFM NANO Thruster, successfully tested and commercialized by ENPULSION, ECLIPSE introduces a modular, clusterable design adaptable to diverse mission needs. Key enhancements include a larger propellant reservoir (up to 500 g), an ion lensing system that reduces beam divergence and increases thrust by over 25% and improved thermal management for reduced losses in hot standby mode, while retaining the trusted crown emitter for extended operational life. Initial testing of the ECLIPSE prototype at FOTEC’s aerospace lab—with diagnostics from 23 Digital Faraday Cups and a micronewton thrust balance—has yielded promising results. Although refinement is ongoing, early data confirms the thruster’s potential to meet the demands of future long-duration, high-precision Earth observation missions and guides further optimization of this advanced propulsion system.