President Kyrolos Georgey presenting at the ESA Sustainability Challenge where Fusion Dynamics received the prestigious jury award
We are immensely proud to announce that Fusion Dynamics has been awarded the prestigious jury award at the European Space Agency's Sustainability Challenge. This recognition highlights our groundbreaking work in developing space-rated plasma actuator technology that promises to revolutionize sustainable space development.
Our President, Kyrolos Georgey, presented our innovative proposal titled "Space-Rated Plasma Actuation" at the ESA Sustainability Challenge, introducing a transformative approach to spacecraft design that directly contributes to ESA's environmental sustainability endeavors. By eliminating the need for moving mechanical components, our plasma actuators offer enhanced reliability, reduced maintenance requirements, and significantly improved operational efficiency.
Revolutionary Technology for Sustainable Space
Plasma actuators generate localized, cold plasma fields that enable precise, fast-acting flow control through electromagnetic forces. This fundamental shift opens new possibilities in spacecraft design, allowing for:
- Improved aerodynamic control during launch and re-entry phases
- Reduced thermal protection system mass by 6-9% through shock wave manipulation
- Enhanced propulsion efficiency with up to 15% improvement in vacuum-specific impulse
- Significant CO₂ emission reductions - up to 26 tonnes of CO₂ saved per Falcon 9-class flight
CEO Claudio Rapisarda presenting our plasma actuator technology to the Estonian Parliament
Recognition at the Highest Levels
Following our success at the ESA Sustainability Challenge, our CEO Claudio Rapisarda was invited to present our technology to the Estonian Parliament. This prestigious invitation underscores the significant potential of our plasma actuator technology to contribute to Europe's sustainable space development goals.
During the parliamentary presentation, CEO Rapisarda highlighted how our technology addresses critical challenges in modern aerospace, particularly in the context of Europe's commitment to environmental responsibility and technological innovation in space exploration.
Environmental Impact and Benefits
Our plasma actuator technology delivers measurable environmental benefits through multiple mechanisms:
Climate Forcing Reduction: Simultaneous cuts in CO₂, stratospheric H₂O, and black carbon lower both long-lived and short-lived radiative forcing components, directly contributing to climate protection efforts.
Ozone Stewardship: By reducing emissions from kerosene-oxygen (kerolox) vehicles, our technology helps preserve the ozone layer, with tangible O₃ preservation gains of 0.6-3.8 kt O₃ per launch.
Resource Efficiency: The 5-7% fuel saving enabled by plasma-controlled expansion translates directly into lower mass flows of all combustion products, reducing the overall environmental footprint of space missions.
Figure 1: Reduction per launch for CO₂, H₂O, black carbon (soot) and NOₓ across five reference vehicles in logarithmic scale
The analysis demonstrates significant emission reductions across various launch vehicle classes. For CO₂ and H₂O, the reduction is proportional to propellant savings, delivering up to 26 tonnes of CO₂ and 10 tonnes of H₂O avoided on a Falcon 9-class flight. Black carbon (BC), the largest non-halogen driver of catalytic ozone loss, sees reductions of up to 330 kg per Falcon 9 and 76 kg per RFA One eliminated. NOₓ is also reduced in proportion to mass flow, delivering 30-70% less reactive nitrogen injection into the stratosphere for kerolox stages.
Figure 2: Expected mass of Ozone preserved per launch across five reference launch vehicles
Converting the avoided black carbon into an Ozone-Mass-Deficit (OMD) benefit using the established scaling of 50 tonnes of O₃ protected per kilogram of BC not emitted, our technology demonstrates substantial ozone preservation benefits. This metric highlights the broader environmental impact beyond simple emission reductions, showcasing how our plasma actuator technology contributes to atmospheric protection.
ESA BIC Support and Commercial Development
As part of the ESA Business Incubation Centre (ESA BIC) program at Harwell, Fusion Dynamics is advancing this technology from TRL 4 to TRL 6 by 2028. Our goal is to deliver the first commercial, space-rated actuator family alongside a reusable ground demonstrator.
With the ESA BIC's support, we are positioning ourselves to provide greener, lighter, and more cost-effective European launch systems. Our technology harnesses "the power of the clean, light-blue glow of the fourth state of matter" to create a more sustainable future for space exploration.
Looking Forward
This jury award validation at the ESA Sustainability Challenge, combined with the opportunity to present to the Estonian Parliament, reinforces our commitment to advancing plasma actuator technology for space applications. We are proud to be at the forefront of sustainable space technology development, contributing to Europe's leadership in environmentally responsible space exploration.
The recognition we've received motivates us to continue pushing the boundaries of what's possible in aerospace technology, always with sustainability and environmental responsibility at the core of our innovation.
For more information about our plasma actuator technology and sustainability initiatives, visit our Technology page or contact us.