A revolutionary plasma thruster for the new space age.
Created: 2022-02-12
Updated: 2022-02-20
Service
- Classification
- In-Space Transportation
- Category
- Active Debris Removal (ADR)
Resources - Space Debris Utilization
- Fields
- In-Space Transportation
- Status
- 4) Early stage
- First launch
- 2023
Plasma thruster based Automated Deorbiting-Block system (PAD-B)
- Lead: Magdrive
- Partners: University of Southampton
- Funding: £199,500
Magdrive and the University of Southampton are investigating the feasibility of the Plasma thruster based Automated Deorbiting-Block (PAD-B) system. A mothership will carry many of these ~1 kg nano-spacecraft, which can be fired at debris from afar. These will attach and work together to autonomously bring the debris into the atmosphere to dispose of it. Through this project the team will investigate the feasibility of PAD-B and deliver flight hardware for a subcomponent prototype space flight in June 2022.