Propelling New Frontiers in Space and in NSF I-Corps
CISGAM participates in the prestigious U.S. National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Innovation Corps (I-Corps) program.
June 20, 2023 - A team from the University of California, Irvine (UC Irvine) has embarked on a transformative journey by participating in the prestigious U.S. National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Innovation Corps (I-Corps) program. Comprised of brilliant minds from UC Irvine’s Samueli School of Engineering mechanical and aerospace engineering department, the CISGAM team has devised an ingenious satellite propulsion system with the potential to revolutionize the realm of space exploration.
For the past half-decade, UC Irvine has actively collaborated with the NSF, nurturing local teams of scientists and engineers through a contract that has borne remarkable results. Before attending the national I-Corps program, CISGAM went through an illuminating regional edition of the I-Corps initiative at UC Irvine, designed to expand research beyond the confines of laboratories and amplify the economic and societal impact of projects. By attending lectures, receiving invaluable mentorship, and forging connections with potential partners and customers, participants seek to achieve product/market fit. Astonishingly, the I-Corps program has already witnessed the birth of over a thousand startups, attracting a staggering $760 million in funding.
The Challenge
Under the visionary leadership of Professor Manuel Gamero Castano, the CISGAM team tackles a significant hurdle plaguing small satellites: the absence of an efficient propulsion system. While these satellites have undergone a remarkable downsizing over the years, evolving from behemoth structures comparable to garbage trucks to compact entities resembling a loaf of bread, the advantages gained in cost and production time come at a price. The reduction in size restricts the incorporation of conventional propulsion systems within the satellite’s limited space and power. Consequently, small satellites suffer from a lack of maneuverability, rendering them incapable of changing orbit or evading collisions. Once their mission is complete, these diminutive satellites face a dire fate, condemned to become space debris or “zombie satellites” floating through space.
The CISGAM team’s satellite propulsion system offers an elegant solution to this problem. Remarkably compact and efficient, this system possesses sufficient power to drive even the tiniest satellites, such as a one-unit CubeSat, with dimensions like a Rubik’s Cube.
CISGAM’s electrospray propulsion system for SmallSats uses Microelectromechanical systems technology (MEMS) to manufacture compact arrays of thousands of electrospray emitters to process the power harvested by the spacecraft from the sun. Electrospray propulsion is based on the electrostatic acceleration of the charged droplets and ions emitted by an electrospray. It accelerates the charged droplets and ions emitted by an electrospray electrostatically. To process the power available in SmallSats, many emitters must be used to atomize the propellant. CISGAM is working on the development of electrospray propulsion by microfabricating compact arrays of thousands of emitters. Due to its efficient performance at low power levels and the scalability of power and thrust made possible by microfabrication, electrospray propulsion is the ideal propulsion technology for SmallSats.
From Invention to Impact
A core facet of the I-Corps program entails engaging with potential customers and partners. As participants in the national I-Corps program, the CISGAM team set an ambitious target of conducting 100 interviews—a daunting task considering the niche market they operate in.
Marc Galobardes, a current Ph.D. student in the mechanical and aerospace engineering department, reflects on their initial apprehension, stating, “The instructors reminded us to keep up with the interviews, but this is a very niche market. It’s not like there are people waiting on the corner to buy a propulsion system.” Remarkably, the team exceeded their goal, concluding the program with a staggering 110 interviews.
Galobardes explains, “We learned how to approach people and how to ask the right questions, so that we can continue our development in the right direction.” During their interviews with satellite manufacturers, CISGAM was surprised to learn that the manufacturers had a hard time finding propulsion systems that adhered to their constraints and needs.
Dr. Cisquella-Serra, an Aerospace engineer who completed his Ph.D. and postdoctoral research at UC Irvine developing the propulsion system, shares his excitement, stating, “We’re excited that they literally told us that the current solutions don’t yet fulfill their needs and that they would love our propulsion system. We’re very happy to tackle that problem and provide them with the best solution we know.”
Furthermore, CISGAM gained a critical understanding of their real customer, realizing that the propulsion decisions primarily stem from the platform manufacturers rather than the satellite operators.
Galobardes praises the I-Corps program, urging his scientific and engineering peers to seize this opportunity. “The I-Corps program was not easy, but now that we’ve reached the end, we really see the value of the effort. What we learned was worth it. I’d encourage everyone to do it,” he emphasizes.
“The I-Corps program was not easy, but now that we’ve reached the end, we really see the value of the effort. What we learned was worth it. I’d encourage everyone to do it.”
– Marc Galobardes Esteban
A Dream Fulfilled
CISGAM’s pioneering technology arrives at a propitious moment, with the demand for their invention set to soar. As costs plummet and the satellite industry experiences exponential growth, fueled by companies like SpaceX launching thousands of small satellites, a wide range of applications emerge. From enabling broadband internet and satellite TV services to monitoring forestry, agriculture, urban development, and marine transport, these small marvels promise to reshape our world.
As the CISGAM team edges closer to the market, their anticipation grows. Professor Gamero Castano expresses his elation, stating, “We have been working on this for 20 years. If the fundamental research you have been working on actually becomes applied, that’s a dream.”
Magnani another Ph.D. graduate from Gamero’s Lab and I-Corps participant, sharing his colleague’s enthusiasm, remarks, “I always wanted to be part of how humanity will get to space. This might seem like a small thing, but this is going to be important. These are things that don’t make headlines but will really shape what the future of space is going to be.”
The CISGAM team, under the guidance of Professor Gamero Castano, stands poised to ascend to new heights. Their dedication and groundbreaking technology position them to become vanguards of an extraordinary era in space exploration.
To learn more about CISGAM’s extraordinary journey, please visit https://cisgam.com/
To learn more about I-Corps at UC Irvine, please visit https://innovation.uci.edu/i-corps/
- Jill Kato / UCI
