On October 8, approximately 450 members of the space propulsion and satellite fabrication community spanning 26 countries participated in a special panel discussion at the 2013 International Electric Propulsion Conference. Held at the George Washington University in Washington, D.C., the session entitled "Satellite Operators Discuss - Why is Electric Propulsion Game Changing?" was motivated by a recent paradigm shift in the satellite marketplace.

The 2012 introduction of all-electric satellites by The Boeing Company, coupled with low-cost commercial launch vehicles such as from SpaceX, was seen by many in the space community as a potential game-changing event.  Current electric propulsion (EP) technologies can be over ten times more efficient at using propellant than conventional chemical thrusters.  By completely replacing chemical thrusters with EP, satellites can be launched with much less onboard propellant.  Therefore, a lighter satellite with the same capability can be launched on a smaller, less expensive launch vehicle.  Since the current cost of putting satellites into orbit is around $10,000 per pound, the use of EP can lead to significant cost savings.

Dr. Mitchell Walker, associate professor in Georgia Tech's Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering and the director of the High-Power Electric Propulsion Laboratory, organized the panel along with Rafael Spears, Vice President at L-3 Electron Technologies.  Together they moderated the panel discussion and audience questions focusing on the satellite operators' perspectives regarding commercial investments in EP research and development.  The panel featured the following executives of key commercial satellite operators:

• Antonio Abad, Chief Technology Officer at Hispasat
• Dionisio Tun, Chief Technology Officer of Satmex
• Ken Betaharon, Chief Technology Officer of Asia Broadcast Satellite
• Jean-Luc Froeliger, Vice President of Satellite Operations and Engineering at Intelsat

While acknowledging the merits of EP, the panel emphasized the need for reliable EP systems to offset the loss of backup propulsion capability that simpler chemical thrusters can provide.  Panel members also expressed interest in EP systems capable of saving enough onboard propellant that multiple revenue-generating satellites can fit onto a single launch vehicle.  Audience members primarily consisting of EP researchers and developers came away from the panel discussion with a better understanding of the commercial drivers for EP technology.  Many student researchers attending the conference also gained an appreciation of how to link their laboratory work to real world requirements, an invaluable lesson to help guide the development of future EP professionals.

For a summary of the 2013 International Electric Propulsion Conference, please visit:

http://www.particleincell.com/blog/2013/iepc2013-debrief/

For additional information about the EP research being conducted by Georgia Tech's High-Power Electric Propulsion Laboratory, please visit:

http://mwalker.gatech.edu/hpepl/