More than 130 participants from 16 countries on 4 continents took part in the 13th edition of the “Development Trends in Space Propulsion Systems” conference, which was held on December 5-6, 2024 at Łukasiewicz – Institute of Aviation. As part of the event, for the first time, the Professor Piotr Wolański Awards were presented to individuals and institutions that have contributed to the development of space propulsion technology.
The main theme of this year’s conference was new space propulsion systems. Due to trends in the sector, the development of new green technologies was discussed. There were also many presentations on both satellite and rocket propulsion.
The conference was attended by experts from international research centers and space agencies. Special presentations were given by Prof. Michael Gozin of Tel Aviv University, Prof. Maurizio Natali of the University of Perugia and Leonard Dudzinski of NASA. The conference was complemented by panel discussions and technical presentations. The event was an excellent opportunity to expand scientific contacts, to get knowledge on space propulsion and to talk about new projects. Guests visited selected laboratories of the Institute, including the Satellite and Rocket Propulsion Laboratory Center.
The conference showcased a wide range of propulsion technologies that are likely to become part of new space systems. Panel discussions covered the specifics of the development of green propulsion systems that have the potential to replace current solutions. In particular, the difference in raising technology readiness and deployment of technologies for institutional missions (e.g., European Space Agency) versus new space missions resounded.
Professor Piotr Wolański Awards
As part of the conference, a gala commemorating Professor Piotr Wolański was held at the Institute of Thermal Technology of the Warsaw University of Technology. The event was attended by invited guests from the space sector. During the gala, the Professor Piotr Wolański Awards were presented to individuals and organizations that have contributed to advances in space propulsion technologies.
The Wolański Awards for 2024 were received by:
- Prof. Michael Gozin of Tel Aviv University for his innovative research on green oxidizers for space propulsion,
- Professor Niklas Wingborg and his team in the Green Space Propulsion Hall of Fame category, for the development of European ADN-based propellants,
- AMBER 2K team from Łukasiewicz – Institute of Aviation for the achievement of the year in green space propulsion,
- PUT Rocketlab for student achievement of the year in the field of ecological space propulsion, for the development of a turbopump using hydrogen peroxide,
- Polish Space Agency for supporting Polish space development in green propulsion and green space transportation technologies,
- The Faculty of Power and Aeronautical Engineering of Warsaw University of Technology for excellence in space propulsion education and the largest contribution of engineering graduates in the field of Polish space propulsion.
“We are pleased to recognize with our award outstanding scientists, engineers and institutions that support the development of space propulsion. This is a niche but very promising field of space technology development. We want to continue to recognize work and interesting projects in the field of propulsion in future editions,” said Sylwester Wyka, Ph.D., Deputy Director for Research at Łukasiewicz – Institute of Aviation.
“The Professor Piotr Wolański Award is a great honor for us and a token of appreciation for the Polish Space Agency’s efforts to develop green technologies in space transportation. Green propulsion can become the future of the space sector – the key to more sustainable operations in space as well. Such awards, which show our commitment to initiatives supporting research and innovation in this area, motivate us to work even harder for the benefit of the Polish and European space industry,” stressed Col. Marcin Mazur, Vice President of the Polish Space Agency.
About the conference
The “Development Trends in Space Propulsion Systems” conference is an annual event aimed at scientists and engineers involved in space propulsion.
“The event, of which we were the main sponsor as Busch Group Poland, is a unique opportunity to exchange experiences and gather information on current research related to the aerospace sector. We are very happy to be a part of this great science as a supplier of vacuum systems and our solutions have gained recognition in already applied projects that we have delivered to our customers in Poland and around the world,” said Miłosz Pawlak, Business Development Manager, Busch Polska.
The organizers of the 13th “Development Trends in Space Propulsion Systems” conference were Łukasiewicz – Institute of Aviation, the Faculty of Power and Aeronautical Engineering of Warsaw University of Technology, the Polish Space Agency and the Industry Contact Point “Smart and Clean Mobility”.
The conference was held under the patronage of the Minister of Science and Higher Education, the Ministry of Development and Technology, the Space and Satellite Research Committee of the Polish Academy of Sciences, the Association of Polish Space Sector Professionals and the Space Sector Employers Association.
Busch Group was the sponsor of the conference.
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