{{Infobox company | trade_name = ThrustMe | logo = File:ThrustMe_logo_256.png | foundation = {{Start date and age|2017|2|3|df=yes}} | founder = Ane Aanesland, Dmytro Rafalskyi | hq_location_city = Verrières-le-Buisson | hq_location_country = France | key_people = Ane Aanesland (CEO), Dmytro Rafalskyi (CTO) | industry = Aerospace | products = Spacecraft propulsion | num_employees = 21–50 | website = https://www.thrustme.fr/ }}
'''ThrustMe''' is a deep tech company that designs miniaturized aerospace thrusters for small satellites, increasing the life of satellites and making them more affordable.<ref>{{cite web|language=fr|last=Lestavel|first=Thomas|title=La start-up ThrustMe divise par trois les coûts d'accès à l'espace|url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/societes/la-start-up-thrustme-divise-par-trois-les-couts-d-acces-a-l-espace-20190417|website=Le Figaro.fr|date=2019-04-17|access-date=2021-01-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|language=en|title=How Iodine Electric Propulsion Systems Can Enable The Economic Sustainability Of Satellite Constellations.|url=http://www.satmagazine.com/story.php?number=1467816246|website=satmagazine.com|date=February 2021|access-date=2021-07-26}}</ref>
The company builds gridded ion thrusters (NPT30)<ref name="npt30">{{cite web|language=en|author1=|title=French startup demonstrates iodine propulsion in potential boost for space debris mitigation efforts|url=https://spacenews.com/french-startup-demonstrates-iodine-propulsion-in-potential-boost-for-space-debris-mitigation-efforts/|website=Spacenews|date=2020-03-25|access-date=2021-07-26}}</ref> and cold gas thrusters (I2T5).<ref>{{cite web|language=en|author1=|title=Iodine Impulse for Smallsats Demo'd On-Orbit by ThrustMe and Spacety|url=https://smallsatnews.com/2019/11/25/iodine-impulse-for-smallsats-demod-on-orbit-by-thrustme-and-spacety/|website=Smallsat News|date=2019-11-25|access-date=2021-07-26}}</ref>
== History == ThrustMe was founded in 2017 by Ane Aanesland and Dmytro Rafalskyi, who previously worked at the École Polytechnique and CNRS as researchers in plasma physics and electric propulsion.<ref>{{cite web|language=fr-FR|title=Un nouvel espace pour les start-up|url=https://www.lajauneetlarouge.com/un-nouvel-espace-pour-les-start-up/|website=La Jaune et la Rouge|date=2018-06-03|access-date=2020-04-23}}</ref> Initially, the startup was incubated in Agoranov.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Meddah|first1=Hassan|date=2017-07-08|title=ThrustMe emmène les minisatellites en orbite|url=https://www.usinenouvelle.com/article/thrustme-emmene-les-minisatellites-en-orbite.N561073|journal=L'Usine Nouvelle|language=fr-FR|url-access=subscription|access-date=2021-07-26}}</ref> Also in 2017, ThrustMe raised 1.7 million euros for its development.<ref>{{cite web|language=en-US|title=French startup raises $1.9 million for smallsat electric propulsion|url=https://spacenews.com/french-startup-raises-1-9-million-for-smallsat-electric-propulsion/|website=SpaceNews.com|date=2017-06-16|access-date=2020-04-23}}</ref>
In 2018, ThrustMe received €2.4 million from the European Commission to commercialise electric propulsion for nanosatellites.<ref>{{cite web|language=en-US|title=Electric propulsion startup ThrustMe gets $2.8 million from European Commission|url=https://spacenews.com/electric-propulsion-startup-thrustme-gets-2-8-million-from-european-commission/|website=SpaceNews.com|date=2018-08-09|access-date=2020-04-23}}</ref>
In 2019, Ane Aanesland received the CNRS innovation medal for her entrepreneurial activities.<ref>{{cite web|language=fr-FR|title=Ane Aanesland, de chercheuse au CNRS à CEO de ThrustMe {{!}} Bpifrance servir l'avenir|url=https://www.bpifrance.fr/A-la-une/Actualites/Ane-Aanesland-de-chercheuse-au-CNRS-a-CEO-de-ThrustMe-47146|website=www.bpifrance.fr|date=10 July 2019|access-date=2020-04-23}}</ref> The same year, Spacety and ThrustMe maneuvered for the first time a satellite using iodine as propellant, with a cold-gas thruster.<ref>{{cite journal|language=fr-FR|first1=Alexandre|last1=Couto|title=ThrustMe met en orbite le premier satellite utilisant de l'iode pour se propulser|journal=Industry-techno|date=2019-11-04|url=https://www.industrie-techno.com/article/thrustme-met-en-orbite-le-premier-satellite-propulse-par-de-l-iode.57909|access-date=2020-04-23}}</ref>
In 2021, ThrustMe, in partnership with Spacety, achieved the first in-orbit demonstration of an electric propulsion system powered by iodine.<ref name="npt30" /><ref>{{cite web|language=en|author1=|title=ThrustMe's Iodine Propulsion System Launched Aboard Spacety's Smallsat|url=https://news.satnews.com/2020/11/06/thrustmes-iodine-propulsion-system-launched-aboard-spacetys-smallsat/|website=Satnews|date=2020-11-06|access-date=2021-07-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|language=en|author1=|title=Iodine thruster could slow space junk accumulation|url=https://www.esa.int/Applications/Telecommunications_Integrated_Applications/Iodine_thruster_could_slow_space_junk_accumulation|website=esa.int|date=2021-01-22|access-date=2021-07-26}}</ref> The results were published as a research article in the journal ''Nature'', where the maneuvers described resulted in a cumulative altitude change above 3 km.<ref name=Nature1 >{{cite journal |last1=Rafalskyi |first1=Dmytro |last2=Martínez Martínez |first2=Javier |last3=Habl |first3=Lui |last4=Zorzoli Rossi |first4=Elena |last5=Proynov |first5=Plamen |last6=Boré |first6=Antoine |last7=Baret |first7=Thomas |last8=Poyet |first8=Antoine |last9=Lafleur |first9=Trevor |last10=Dudin |first10=Stanislav |last11=Aanesland |first11=Ane |date=17 November 2021 |title=In-orbit demonstration of an iodine electric propulsion system |journal=Nature |volume=599 |pages=411–415 |issue=7885|doi=10.1038/s41586-021-04015-y |pmid=34789903 |pmc=8599014 |quote=''Both atomic and molecular iodine ions are accelerated by high-voltage grids to generate thrust, and a highly collimated beam can be produced with substantial iodine dissociation.''}}</ref><ref name=CNET>{{cite web |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/in-a-space-first-scientists-test-ion-thrusters-powered-by-iodine/ |title=In a space first, scientists test ion thrusters powered by iodine |last1=Ravisetti |first1=Monisha |date=18 November 2021 |website=CNET |publisher=Red Ventures |access-date=2021-11-29}}</ref>
According to the European Space Agency, in regard to the use of iodine rather than Xenon in a gridded ion thruster, "This small but potentially disruptive innovation could help to clear the skies of space junk, by enabling tiny satellites to self-destruct cheaply and easily at the end of their missions, by steering themselves into the atmosphere where they would burn up."<ref name=ESA1 >{{cite web |url=https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2021/01/Iodine_thruster_used_to_change_the_orbit_of_a_small_satellite_for_the_first_time_ever#.YaUuCq-kYyQ.link |title=Iodine thruster used to change the orbit of a small satellite for the first time ever |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=22 January 2021 |website=www.esa.int |publisher=The European Space Agency |access-date=2021-11-29}}</ref>
== Flight missions ==
=== Ongoing === *'''XiaoXiang 1-08''' is a six-unit cubesat developed by Chinese satellite company Spacety. It carries ThrustMe's I2T5 non-pressurized cold gas thruster, the first in existence.<ref>{{cite web|language=en|first1=Andrew|last1=Jones|title=French startup ThrustMe found fast route to orbit through China's Spacety|url=https://spacenews.com/french-startup-thrustme-found-fast-route-to-orbit-through-chinas-spacety/|date=2019-11-25|access-date=2021-07-30}}</ref> *'''BeiHangKongshi-1''' is a 12-unit cubesat developed by Spacety. The satellite carries ThrustMe's NPT30-I2-1U, the first iodine electric propulsion system sent into space.<ref name="npt30" /> The cubesat was launched on board the Long March 6 on 6 November 2020.<ref>{{cite news|date=6 November 2020|title=ThrustMe's Iodine Propulsion System Launched Aboard Spacety's Smallsat|work=Sat News|url=https://news.satnews.com/2020/11/06/thrustmes-iodine-propulsion-system-launched-aboard-spacetys-smallsat/|access-date=1 September 2021}}</ref> According to Rafalskyi, advanced orbital maneuvers would be carried out to test the satellite's full capabilities.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Werner |first1=Debra |title=Spacety launches satellite to test ThrustMe iodine electric propulsion and constellation technologies |url=https://spacenews.com/thrustme-2020-demonstration/ |access-date=1 September 2021 |work=Space News |date=6 November 2020}}</ref> *'''Hisea-1''' is a 180-kilogram SAR minisatellite. It is the first generation of light, small SAR satellites developed by Spacety carrying a NPT30-I2-1U for orbit maintenance, collision avoidance, and end-of-life deorbiting.<ref>{{cite web|language=en|first1=Andrew|last1=Jones|title=China launches first Long March 8 from Wenchang spaceport|url=https://spacenews.com/china-launches-first-long-march-8-from-wenchang-spaceport/|website=Spacenews|date=2020-03-25|access-date=2021-07-26}}</ref> It was launched on board a Long March 8 rocket on 22 December 2020 for ocean research.<ref>{{cite web|language=en|title=Imagery from Hisea-1 SAR Satellite Unveiled|url=https://en.spacety.com/index.php/2021/01/04/imagery-from-worlds-first-c-band-commercial-smallsat-sar-hisea-1-satellite-unveiled/|date=2020-12-30|access-date=2021-07-30}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Iodine Electric Propulsion To Become A Critical Subsystem For SAR Constellations |url=https://news.satnews.com/2021/01/03/iodine-electric-propulsion-to-become-a-critical-subsystem-for-sar-constellations/ |access-date=1 September 2021 |work=Sat News |date=3 January 2021}}</ref>
=== Announced ===
* '''NorSat-TD''' is a microsatellite developed by the UTIAS Space Flight Laboratory (SFL) for the Norwegian space agency.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Norway Selects Space Flight Laboratory (SFL) to Develop Technology Demonstrator Microsatellite {{!}} UTIAS Space Flight Laboratory|url=https://www.utias-sfl.net/?p=3543|access-date=2021-11-25|website=www.utias-sfl.net}}</ref> The satellite was [launched in 2023; earlier it was] scheduled to be launched in the first quarter of 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Romsenter|first=Norsk|title=Agreement signed with the Netherlands for Norway's new satellite|url=https://www.romsenter.no/eng/News/News/Agreement-signed-with-the-Netherlands-for-Norway-s-new-satellite|access-date=2021-11-25|website=Norwegian Space Agency}}</ref> *'''GOMX-5''' is an 8U cubesat built by GomSpace for the European Space Agency to perform a technology demonstration mission.<ref>{{Cite web|title=ESA and GomSpace sign contract for continuation of the GOMX-5 mission|url=https://news.cision.com/gomspace-a-s/r/esa-and-gomspace-sign-contract-for-continuation-of-the-gomx-5-mission,c3202464|access-date=2021-11-25|website=News Powered by Cision|language=en}}</ref> The launch is scheduled for 2026.<ref>{{Cite web|title=GOMX 5A, 5B|url=https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/gomx-5.htm|access-date=2021-11-25|website=Gunter's Space Page|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=GOMX-5: A Standardized CubeSat Platform Demonstration with Maritime Domain Awareness and ESA Zero Debris Compliance « SmallSat Europe |url=https://2025.smallsateurope.com/sessions-four/gomx-5-a-standardized-cubesat-platform-demonstration-with-maritime-domain-awareness-and-esa-zero-debris-compliance/ |access-date=2026-01-05 |website=2025.smallsateurope.com}}</ref> *'''INSPIRESat-4/ARCADE''' is a 27U spacecraft built by NTU, Jülich Research Centre, LASP, IISST and NCU. The satellite aims to flight in the VLEO (Very Low Earth Orbit) region to make in-situ Ionospheric plasma measurements.<ref>{{Cite web|title=INSPIRESAT-4/ARCADE : a VLEO mission for atmospheric temperature measurements and ionospheric plasma characterization|url=https://dr.ntu.edu.sg/handle/10356/148434|access-date=2021-11-26|website=Nanyang Technological University|language=en}}</ref> The thruster is expected to lower the orbit of the satellite to less than 300 km and enable the mission to survive at this altitude for a duration of 6 months or more. The launch is scheduled for 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|title=INSPIRESat-4|url=https://lasp.colorado.edu/home/inspire/inspiresat-4/|access-date=2021-11-26|website=University of Colorado|language=en}}</ref>
== Awards ==
* French Tech Ticket, 2017.<ref>{{cite web|language=fr-FR|title=Les 70 startups internationales lauréates du french tech ticket saison 2|url=http://proxy-pubminefi.diffusion.finances.gouv.fr/pub/document/18/22243.pdf|website=finances.gouv.fr|page=27|date=2017-03-07|access-date=2021-07-26}}</ref> * "Grand Prix i-LAB" of the 19th national competition to help the creation of innovative technology companies, 2017.<ref>{{cite web|language=fr-FR|title=Quatre projets lauréats du Concours i-LAB 2017 (dont un Grand Prix) sont accompagnés par la SATT Paris-Saclay|url=https://www.satt.fr/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/CP_Concours-i-Lab-SATT-Paris-Saclay.pdf|publisher=SATT Paris-Saclay|date=2017-07-07|access-date=2021-07-26}}</ref> * "Prix de l'Excellence Française Innovation Spatiale", 2017.<ref>{{cite web|language=en-FR|title=Palmarès Spécial Innovation Spatiale 2017 -|url=http://excellencefrancaise.com/fr/laureats/2017-laureats/palmares-special-2017/#gallery-9|access-date=2020-04-23}}</ref> * "Médaille de l’innovation du CNRS", for Ane Aanesland, 2019.<ref>{{cite web|last=Poncet|first=Guerric|date=2019-11-28|title=Ane Aanesland, la mécano de l'espace|url=https://www.lepoint.fr/sciences-nature/ane-aanesland-la-mecano-de-l-espace-28-11-2019-2350191_1924.php|url-access=subscription|access-date=2020-04-23|website=Le Point|language=fr-FR}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|language=fr-FR|first=Martin|last=Koppe|title=Four Aces for Innovation|url=https://news.cnrs.fr/articles/four-aces-for-innovation|website=news.cnrs.fr|date=2019-12-09|access-date=2021-07-26}}</ref>
== References == <references />
{{Portal|Spaceflight}}
Category:Spacecraft propulsion Category:Aerospace companies Category:Aerospace companies of France