The Project
Ice2Thrust.Space
The project seeks to offer a high-performance platform enabling autonomous spacecraft docking and propellant refilling, promoting economic and environmental sustainability, and facilitating in-orbit servicing, robotics, and in-space manufacturing. Furthermore, the project explores in-space water extraction and utilization from celestial bodies, contributing to a self-sustaining circular space economy based on solar energy harvesting.
Ultimately, the project strives to position Europe as a leader in solar-energy-powered space mobility, fostering a self-sustaining space economy. Ice2Thrust.Space has a strong interdisciplinary dimension and is utilising the extensive expertise ranging from system engineering to electrochemistry to robotics and propulsion, which all of the project partners contribute to the consortium – TUM, EnduroSat, University of Luxembourg, and Tech Tour.
The Partners
Technical University of Munich (TUM), Germany
For further information visit https://www.tum.de/en/
- Prof. Chiara Manfletti Principal Investigator Professor for Space Mobility and Propulsion, chiara.manfletti(@)tum.de
- Prof. Philipp Reiß, Professor for Lunar and Planetary Exploration, p.reiss(@)tum.de
- Sascha Dengler, Project Manager WEP Thruster, sascha.dengler(@)tum.dе
- Sören Heizmann, Technical & Innovation Manager WEP Electrolyser, s.heizmann(@)tum.de
- Tomas Mrazek, Portfolio Manager WEP Docking & ACS, tomas.mrazek(@)tum.de
- Leonor Jesus, Vacuum & Experimental Infrastructure, leonor.jesus(@)tum.de
- Thilo Witzel, Water Extraction, thilo.witzel(@)tum.de
University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg
University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg, founded in 2003, is one of the youngest and fastest-growing universities in Europe. Uni.Lu offers high-quality programmes at all levels, is international (staff from 20 countries, students from 132 countries), and is multilingual (English, French, German). Uni.lu’s three interdisciplinary faculties and centres focus on digital transformation, medicine and health, and sustainable social development. Its success is due to interdisciplinary collaboration between social sciences, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and medicine. In 2022, Uni.lu produced more than 2430 publications and managed more than 1000 research projects.
For further information visit https://www.uni.lu/en/
The Space Robotics (SpaceR) Research Group is dedicated to developing novel AI-based technologies to increase the autonomy of planetary robotics, orbital robotics, and robotic manipulation tasks for in-space servicing, assembly, manufacturing, and other operations, such as exploration, resource collection, transportation, and assistive robotics, thereby enhancing human-in-the-loop operations in space. www.spacer.lu
Contacts:
- Prof. Miguel Olivares-Mendez. Principal Investigator, Project Manager, Professor for Space Robotics, miguel.olivaresmendez(@)uni.lu
- Dr. Carol Martinez-Luna, V&V co-lead (WP5.3), carol.martinezluna(@)uni.lu
- Aman Arora, Autonomous docking & refilling using MBRL lead (WP4.3, WP5.2), aman.arora(@)uni.lu
- Matteo El Hariry, Expert RL. Support (WP4.3 and WP5.2.), Matteo.elhariry(@)uni.lu
- Dr. Saki Omi, Expert RL. Support (WP4.3 and WP5.2.), saki.omi(@)uni.lu (from 1/10/2025)
- Dr. Baris Can Yalcin, V&V support (WP5.3), bariscan.yalcin(@)uni.lu (until 31/10/2025)
- Dr. Mohatashem Reyaz Makhdoomi, V&V co-lead (WP5.3), mohatashem.makhdoomi(@)uni.lu (until 30/06/2026)
- Jun Song, Administrative tasks, jun.song(@)uni.lu
Endurosat, Bulgaria
For more information visit https://www.endurosat.com/
- Stanislav Dimitrov, Senior System Engineer, stanislav(@)endurosat.com
- Monika Rangelova, Programs Coordinator, monika.rangelova(@)endurosat.com
TechTour, Belgium & Bulgaria
TechTour Global, Bulgaria & Tech Tour Europe, Belgium operating under the brand TechTour, is one of the largest investor-oriented communities in Europe connecting entrepreneurs, investors and corporate partners from across the world. TechTour Global has a large experience in bringing together the most active corporates and investors in Europe and connecting them with the most promising entrepreneurs to establish smart partnerships and drive innovation.
For more information visit https://www.techtour.com/
Contacts:
- Denitsa Georgieva, Innovation Programmes, Communication & Dissemination Manager, denitsa(@)techtour.com
- Youssef Sabbah, CFO & Innovation Programmes, youssef(@)techtour.com