Efficient De-Orbiting of Micro- and Nano Satellites using the IFM Nano Thruster

FOTEC is currently commercializing the IFM Nano Thruster through its Spin-Off Company AMR Propulsion Innovations. Building on the extensive development history of FOTEC in the frame of ESA Science programs, this new product provides an improvement of about a factor of 5 in the total impulse density with respect to other electric propulsion systems. This makes it particularly suitable for active de-orbiting. The paper will present teh technolgoy, but also test results from the acceptance testing of a flight model that will be delivered to a commercial customer early 2017. Also, several de-orbiting scenarios using this thruster will be presented.