New electro-thermal rocket to be developed by the University of Surrey

By Tom Kilkelly

3 July 2023

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£250,000 of government funding has enabled the University of Surrey to begin developing a new type of electric space propulsion system.

The project will be undertaken in collaboration with the University of Leicester.

This new propulsion system, the PLAsma TOrch Rocket (PLATOR), aims to offer a balance between the high thrust typical of chemical propulsion engines and the propellant efficiency of electrical propulsion ones.

Funds were provided for the project by the UK Space Agency’s Enabling Technologies programme.

Senior lecturer in Electric Propulsion at the University of Surrey's Space Centre and project lead Dr Andrea Lucca Fabris said: “Our PLATOR rocket could be used as the main way to move spacecraft after launch, or it could be used in space transportation vehicles, or space tugs, for delivering satellites to specific orbital slots, refuelling satellites to prolong their service life and removing space debris.” .

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The PLATOR project will make the most of the advanced vacuum facilities and instrumentation in the Space Propulsion Laboratory at Surrey Space Centre.

Lecturer in Astrodynamics at the Surrey Space Centre and project co-Investigator Dr Nicola Baresi said:

“PLATOR will increase the options available to mission planners and could be particularly useful when the UK develops its own launch capability. UK launches will only be able to reach high-inclination orbits, but our proposed space tugs could hopefully expand their reach, opening the door to new and exciting mission opportunities from the UK soil”

By Tom Kilkelly

Tom Kilkelly started working as a freelance journalist for The Business Magazine following his graduation from UCL in 2022.

During his studies Tom became very interested in the works of Irish authors including Samuel Beckett and Flann O'Brien (Brian O'Nolan).

His current role as a freelance business reporter is his first exposure to the world of business journalism. Working at TBM has given Tom the chance to really get to grips with the goings-on in the business hive that is the South East.