T4i is entering the smallsat market with their first propulsion system product, REGULUS.
This all begun in 2006, with the initial thruster development at the University of Padua. The first thruster version was miniaturized and then surrounded by all tof he other subsystems to build a complete propulsion unit.
REGULUS is almost ready to be integrated in UNISAT-7 for its first launch in October. This is a big milestone for REGULUS; however, this does not represent the end of T4i EP systems developments. Rather this is the only the start…
T4i is already thinking about the future and what will be the firm’s next EP steps. The company has already won a contract from the European Space Agency (ESA) for the development of E-REGULUS, an even more versatile and economically affordable propulsion system.
E-REGULUS is specifically designed to serve platforms in the range between 50 and 200 kg that require thrust capability for station keeping, phasing, drag compensation and other maneuvers. The system is designed with a building block approach, meaning the system integrators can customize the subsystems configuration based on their specific needs. Moreover, E-REGULUS is versatile in using various types of propellant, such as Ar, Kr, Xe, I2, and water.
With a development roadmap of one year and a half, E-REGULUS is entering the smallsat market to become the EP system reference for small space platforms, for LEO and far beyond…
Executive Comment
“Apart being the first EP system using iodine that is going to fly, thanks to its technology REGULUS represents a new era of doing propulsion”, said Elena Toson, T4i Business Development Manager. “To make a correlation, Ferrari cars stands for electric propulsion existing technologies just as Fiat 500 stands for REGULUS. And in the past Fiat 500 completely revolutionized the way people were moving.”
Matteo Duzzi, E-REGULUS Project Manager , said, “We are very proud to improve the capabilities of our system with this project, and to carry out this activity under a programme of, and funded by, the European Space Agency. I particularly like the thruster evolution to target a broader microsatellites power range and the interchangeability of the fluidic line. These will open up new and interesting perspectives, making the system effectively adaptable to different missions and different propellants. In this way it will be easier to match customers’ particular needs.”
