📋 Tender Overview
A consortium of the Polish company Progresja Space and the Institute of Plasma Physics and Laser Microsynthesis. Sylwester Kaliski signed a contract with the National Center for Research and Development to co-finance the project of creating a pulsed plasma drive for nano- and microsatellites. The co-financing granted is the result of a positive assessment of the application in the Fast Path - Space Technologies competition implemented from European Funds.Each year scientists overcome new barriers and will explain the world to us in more detail. Such an example is the cosmos - invariably fascinating and mysterious - and yet thanks to the work of scientists closer and closer. Enterprises operating within the national space sector focusing on innovation and cooperation between science and the economy generate specific profit- emphasizes Wojciech Murdzek Minister of Science and Higher Education.Progresja Space consortium leader is a Krakow-based company that focuses on developing space technologies. The teams experience and business opportunities in the small satellites market have led the company to focus on complete propulsion systems for nano- and microsatellites. In the Fast Track - Space Technologies competition implemented by the National Center for Research and Development from the European Funds Intelligent Development program the company together with a partner - the Institute of Plasma Physics and Laser Microsynthesis. Sylwester Kaliski has obtained nearly PLN 5 million in funding for the pulsed plasma propulsion project for use in small CubeSat satellites.- Trend New Space assumes the creation of the market and technology by private companies which is why the market is becoming more open and based on free market competition. Progresja Space together with IFPiLM thanks to co-financing from European Funds are developing a project attractive to global producers and technology integrators which can strengthen the Polish space sector - said Wojciech Kamieniecki director of the National Center for Research and Development.Micro-solutions in spaceProgresja Space began its activity in the space sector by reviewing projects and works related to satellite drives developed by Polish entities in particular scientific units in order to establish cooperation. The company puts emphasis on commercialization of developed solutions rather than on developing technologies from low levels of technological readiness. Very promising work on pulsed plasma propulsion was carried out at the Institute of Plasma Physics and Laser Microsynthesis in Warsaw. The prototype developed demonstrated much better parameters than currently offered engines of this type. Progresja Space established cooperation with the Institute which resulted in a jointly developed drive concept that could be successfully used in CubeSat-type nanosatellites and establishing a consortium.The small satellites market in particular CubeSats operates based on the New Space trend. Our target market segment i.e. manufacturers and integrators of nano- and microsatellites are mainly guided by commercial considerations when making decisions regarding the purchase of drives. This gives you the opportunity to meet the needs of potential customers. Competitors must also be more open with their offer. All this means that we are able to very well determine the pros and cons of currently offered drives customer expectations and how we can introduce our products to the market that will find their customers - explains Tomasz PalaczPresident of the Management Board of Progresja SpaceThe aim of the project is to develop and implement pulsed plasma engine technology for nano- and microsatellites powered by liquid fuel. This drive will be an independent unit attached to the satellites power rail and its central computer. It will consist of engine module fuel module and power supply and control electronics module placed in a common structure not exceeding 0.5U.The pulsed plasma engine is characterized by several innovations on a global market scale which affects such features as very low power consumption high efficiency and small dimensions that are comparable or better than the products offered on the satellite drive market - explains Tomasz Palacz.- The main innovation is the use of a liquid polymer for a pulsed plasma engine instead of a solid fuel block. This mainly affects the high efficiency and repeatability of shots pulses. When it comes to propulsion for nanosatellites its low weight volume and power consumption as well as the lack of high energy substances are particularly important. Considering all these factors our drive may be one of the best options for CubeSat satellites.The PPT propulsion proposed by Progresja Space and IPFLM would be the first Polish commercial satellite engine. The consortium obtained almost PLN 5 million in grant from the National Center for Research and Development for the development of the project. Investments in space technologies followed by their commercialization are costly and long-lasting. Thanks to the support of the National Center for Research and Development we are able to significantly increase the chances of launching a product on the market without sacrificing its high innovation. In the first stage of the development of the company where our company is located investments in RD are crucial so that we can offer competitive products - adds Tomasz Palacz.A chance for innovatorsEnterprises not only from the space sector that would like to increase their competitiveness based on innovative projects have a chance - in the current horizontal edition without thematic restrictions apart from the requirement to enter the project into one of the National Intelligent Specializations of the Quick Path applications applications for funding innovative projects can be submitted until June 18 this year.
