LEROS 10 reaction control thruster is qualified

The LEROS 10 Thruster, developed by Nammo (U.K.) Ltd, undergoes hot-fire testing at their UK facility                     (Image credit: Nammo (U.K.) Ltd)

The high-performance and low-cost LEROS 10 thruster, developed by Nammo (U.K.) Ltd in the frame of ESA’s Neosat Partnership Project, has recently completed its comprehensive qualification programme and is ready to perform its role in the attitude control and station-keeping of geostationary communication satellites.

The qualification testing has covered all aspects of environmental, functional and performance requirements, including an extensive hot-fire test program, demonstrating the thrusters excellent performance over the full range of operational requirements, including the end of mission passivation of the propulsion subsystem.

The LEROS 10 thruster is now ready for in-orbit validation. Its high-performance and low cost make it a key enabler for a range of future missions using chemical propulsion.

The objective of the Neosat Partnership Projects is to develop and qualify the next generation platforms allowing the two European satellite prime integrators, Airbus DS and Thales Alenia Space to deliver competitive satellites for the commercial satellite market. The projects include development up to in-orbit validation of the new platform product lines for both Prime contractors, Eurostar Neo for Airbus DS and Spacebus Neo for Thales Alenia Space.

Ten Neosat satellites have now been ordered, demonstrating the significant economic impact of ESA’s Partnership Projects. Neosat is part of ESA’s Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) programme and is based on a cooperation between ESA and CNES.

Published 19 December 2019
Last updated at 08 January 2020 - 10:52