A current research project at the TH Mittelhessen is concerned with the further development of engines that are used for satellites. It is funded with 35,000 euros as part of the state programme “Research for Practice”. The project leader is Prof. Dr. Uwe Probst from the THM Department of Electrical and Information Technology.

The engineering scientist is cooperating with the 1st Physics Institute at the Justus Liebig University in Gießen , with the Ariane Group in Lampoldshausen and the German Aerospace Center in Göttingen. The research project focuses on a special type of electrostatic propulsion for satellites, the radio frequency ion thrusters. They were developed by scientists at JLU Gießen and, compared to the technically advanced chemical drives, have the advantage of being more energy-efficient, lighter and therefore longer-lasting.

Prof. Probst's team has set itself the goal of building a digitally controlled radio frequency generator with a full bridge converter in order to significantly reduce the current heat losses between the generator and the engine through a higher output voltage. As a basis for regulating the power transmitted to the engine, the necessary control algorithms should be digitally integrated into a programmemable integrated circuit.

The project duration is one year. The research group can build on earlier development results of the THM 's Space Electronics Working Group and can draw on its own radio frequency generators and frequency control algorithms. In order to give young academics experience in research practice, students and doctoral students are involved in the work.