E.T.COMPACT

Lightweight solar and green propulsion technologies to make space missions more sustainable, including a high-efficiency solar module, a propellant-free mobility system, and an innovative photovoltaic tether.

As space missions increasingly prioritise sustainability and cost efficiency, innovative technologies are essential. The EU-funded E.T.COMPACT project is addressing this by advancing three key in-space solar energy and green propulsion technologies to technology readiness level 4. The first innovation is a thin film two-terminal tandem CIGS/perovskite module, with over 15 % efficiency and a power-to-weight ratio exceeding 50W/kg, aimed at reducing solar panel costs. The second is a miniaturised green-propulsion mobility module that uses an electrodynamic tether for propellant-free propulsion, featuring ultralight, 3D-printed structures. Ultimately, researchers will present a novel bare-photovoltaic tether combining solar energy harvesting with propellant-less propulsion. The proposed technologies promise significant implications for post-mission disposal, active debris removal, in-orbit servicing and space tugs.