EPS®1350

The EPS®1350 satellite propulsion system draws on Safran’s long experience with electric propulsion. It is designed for orbital transfer, station keeping and deorbiting satellites and other spacecraft. In particular, the EPS 1350 was the primary engine on ESA’s lunar probe, Smart-1, launched in 2003 by an Ariane 5 rocket. This mission was completed in September 2006.

Very High Performance

The major advantage of the EPS®1350 is of course its very high specific impulse, which allows significant weight savings versus platforms using conventional chemical propulsion. It also offers an excellent thrust-to-electrical power ratio, which enables reducing operating time or the number of thrusters needed.

In-Orbit Experience

The EPS®1350 amply demonstrated its capabilities during ESA’s Smart-1 probe’s mission from Earth orbit into orbit around the Moon: 5,000 hours cumulated operating time in space Four of these thrusters handle North/South station-keeping duties on the Alphasat satellite, launched in 2013. The EPS®1350 was selected by Space Systems Loral in 2016, and will be used on the company’s communications satellites for station-keeping, and for part of the orbit-topping operation.