MEPs and Satellites: VERA Plasma Propulsion Systems (Volume-Effective Rocket-propulsion Assembly)

2024: Serial production of plasma space engines

In August 2024, it became known that mass production of plasma space engines for small satellites began in Russia. This important step was implemented by the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI through the small innovative enterprise STAR (Satellite Technologies and Astrodevelopment) created at the university. The main task of the enterprise is the production of propulsion systems for nano- and microsatellites, and in the future - for devices of greater mass and size.

According to TASS, the VERA plasma propulsion system (Volume-Effective Rocket-propulsion Assembly) is the main product of STAR. This engine, developed at the Plasma Rocket Engine Laboratory of NRNU MEPhI, has already been recognized as the best in Russia in terms of its characteristics, such as dimensions, weight, energy efficiency and operational safety. VERA engines are designed to operate in Earth orbit, where they perform several key functions: adjusting the satellite's orbit to extend its life, distributing satellites in multi-satellite constellations, and disposing of expired satellites.

The demand for such propulsion systems in Russia is quite high - the market size is estimated at about 70 units per year. Potential buyers include companies such as Sputnik and Geoskan. According to Evgeny Stepin, General Director of STAR and Associate Professor of MEPhI, it was thanks to the real request from these companies that a decision was made to launch serial production. The first sales of VERA engines are expected before the end of 2024.

Plasma engines of this type play a role in ensuring reliable operation of spacecraft. As explained by Igor Egorov, chief engineer of STAR and senior lecturer at MEPhI, the engines allow not only to maintain the operation of satellites in orbit, but also to perform their safe decommissioning, which significantly reduces the amount of space debris. In particular, already three satellites, including the NRNU MEPhI Svyatobor-1 satellite, are equipped with VERA engines. Svyatobor-1 is used for remote sensing of the Earth and control of forest fires.^[1]

2022: Start of assembly of CubeSat 3U nanosatellites with VERA plasma engine

On January 21, 2022, Sitronics announced that employees of the plasma engine laboratory of the LaPlaza Institute of NRNU MEPhI and the Satellites company, part of the Sitronics Group, began assembling a CubeSat 3U nanosatellite with a VERA (Volume-Effective Rocket-propulsion Assembly) pulsed plasma propulsion system. Read more here.

2021: Start of plasma propulsion tests for small spacecraft

Employees of the plasma engine laboratory of the LaPlaza Institute of NRNU MEPhI, together with representatives of the Sputnik company (part of the Sitronics Group), began testing the first plasma propulsion system in Russia, suitable for placement on small spacecraft. Nanosatellites equipped with plasma engines can independently maintain their position in orbit and at the end of their life reduce the altitude of the orbit, reducing the time to combustion in the upper atmosphere by 2-3 times. This was announced on December 9, 2021 at Sitronics.

As noted in the company's message, the plasma propulsion system, called VERA (Volume-Effective Rocket-propulsion Assembly), will be the first in the country and one of the first in the world suitable for installation on spacecraft weighing no more than 4 kg CubeSat 3U format. The small size and mass of the developed engines will allow you to create and maintain groups of dozens of nanosatellites in orbit.

A full-fledged engine system is being tested, which includes, in addition to the engine itself, compact high-voltage converters that provide power to the engine from the low-voltage on-board network, satellite as well as an electronic control board that receives digital commands and, on their basis, monitors all processes inside the plant.

"The developers of nanosatellite groupings are faced with the problem of the lack of sufficiently compact propulsion systems that would allow satellites to occupy and then effectively maintain the necessary positions in the orbital plane for a long time. With the VERA engine, this problem will be solved, which will give a powerful impetus for the development of inexpensive satellite systems of a new generation, "said Igor Egorov, head of the plasma and jet engine laboratory at the LaPlaza Institute of NRNU MEPhI.

For sending to Earth orbit, Satellites is preparing two CubeSat 3U nanosatellites using this type of propulsion system. The satellites are being created and will be sent into space as part of the "Space PI" program, supported by the Foundation for Assistance to Innovation. The launch of satellites into space is expected in 2022, where the main flight tests of the engine will take place.

{{quote|"Despite its small size, nanosatellites can solve many problems that were previously solved only with the help of much larger and more expensive devices. Nanosatellites can engage in remote sensing of the Earth (DZZ), including operational detection of natural disasters, collect data on the movement of sea and aircraft (AIS, ADS-B), maintain the so-called "Internet of Things" (IoT), providing communication with remote autonomous meteorological and oceanographic stations along the Northern Sea Route, "said Sitronics Group President Nikolai Pozhidaev.

Another important problem that the plasma engine will help solve is the problem of space debris. Typically, nanosatellites can remain in orbit for more than a decade after completing their operation before braking against the upper atmosphere clears near-Earth space from them. All this time, the threat remains that a nanosatellite that has already worked out its resource will collide with some functioning, possibly manned, device. But nanosatellites equipped with engines can independently reduce the altitude of the orbit at the end of their life, thereby reducing the time to combustion in the upper atmosphere by 2-3 times.

"The main tasks of the space experiment with engines are to demonstrate the high technological level and reliability of the device, to work out the maneuvering of vehicles in orbit, to serve as an important element for future series of modern domestic nanosatellites and satellite groupings for various purposes that can compete in the international market," said Vladislav Ivanenko, General Director of Satellites.

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