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Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - AMPSS (AMPSS â€“ Advanced Micro-propulsion for Small Satellites)

Teaser

Summary

The small satellites (< 500 kg satellites) market is going through a significant expansion in terms of both capabilities and demand. Serving the needs of this market, requires developing micro-propulsion systems, suitable for the class of nano- and micro-satellites, with some specific requirements, such as high-performance, low fuel and power consumption as well as low specific mass and volume. However, only around 20 micro-propulsion systems are currently available worldwide and none of them fulfil all above-mentioned requirements. The innovative micro-propulsion system AMPSS of Berlin Space Consortium (BSC) is a key enabling technology to provide small satellite platforms with a powerful, yet cost-efficient, onboard propulsion system to commercial operators of constellations for orbital lifetime extension and constellation management purposes. AMPSS outperforms all other electric propulsion systems with its unique combination of high-performance, high efficiency, low fuel and power consumption, low specific mass, volume and complexity, high safety and a very attractive price.

Work performed

During the Phase l Feasibility Study, BSC has investigated the following aspects:
- Product validation: BSC has conducted qualification model testing of the AMPSS integrated propulsion system and approved its functional performance as well as its behaviour under environmental stress.
- Market Assessment: BSC has investigated the market potential for its solution, assessed the competition landscape and identified risks and opportunities related to market entry.
- Business Model: BSC has confirmed its B2B and B2B2B model and its sale channels strategy. BSC has initiated discussions with potential clients and with actors along its value chain. Moreover, BSC has estimated its potential market share and expected revenues, based on the market assessment and the competition analysis.
- IPR Strategy and Regulatory Requirements: BSC has performed an IPR assessment, supported by a legal advisor, in order to explore the possibilities to patent its solution and confirm its Freedom to Operate. BSC has analysed all relevant restrictions by the German Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control to prepare the solution for the market.
- Business Development Plan: BSC has set the next steps to bring the solution to the market, including Phase 2 project activities to be conducted and human resources acquisition plan over the next 5 years from the market launch.
As a result of the tasks described above BSC has enhanced and updated its Business Plan.

Key conclusions:
- The successful results of firing, vibration and thermal vacuum tests, enabled BSC to confirm the launch of the product by the second quarter of 2021, at the end of the Phase 2 project.
- Over 7,000 small satellites are expected to be launched over the next 10 years, from which 80% of this total is accounted for constellations. The market potential for AMPSS is huge.
- AMPSS is able to provide small satellite platforms with a powerful, yet cost-efficient, onboard propulsion system to commercial operators of constellations for orbital lifetime extension and constellation management purposes. While there are other micro-propulsion systems on the market, AMPSS outperforms all other systems with its unique combination of high-performance, high efficiency, low fuel and power consumption, low specific mass, volume and complexity, high safety and a very attractive price.
- BSC has attended the major small satellites conferences, where potential partners were found and agreements were achieved.
- AMPSS cannot be patented by anyone else and is free to be operated by BSC.
- BSC complies with all relevant restrictions by the German Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control. Thus, it is ready for the market from a regulatory point of view.
- BSC aims at achieving about 9% of the market share generating an estimated turnover of â‚¬22M.
- The company earns revenues through B2B and B2B2B model, where customers buy the solution directly from BSC or through distributors.
- BSC is expecting to hire additional 20 full time employees by 2025.

Final results

The next step is to apply for the SME Instrument Phase 2 grant.

The overall business innovation project will focus on industrialising the solution with strong commercial potential validated during the Phase 1 feasibility study.

During the Phase 2 project, BSC will manufacture, assemble and test the AMPSS Flight Model (FM). BSC will purchase and manufacture the required components, validate the FM and prepare it for commercialisation. Phase 2 will also be used to obtain the required licenses and authorizations to go to the market. BSC will secure revenues and will be profitable already in the first year from the market launch, as during Phase 1 has already identified several potential customers for its AMPSS products.