MUMBAI, India, Sept. 14 -- Intellectual Property India has published a patent application (202611087954 A) filed by Uttaranchal University on July 18, 2026, for An Externally Mounted Satellite Re-Entry System Using Ion Propulsion.
Inventors include Sachin Srivastava; Diwakar Singh; Dev Kumar; Ankur Kumar; Mahaveer Gaur; Anshika Gusain; and Sanskriti Pradhan.
The application for the patent was published on September 11, 2026, under issue no. 37/2026.
Abstract: An externally mounted satellite re-entry system using ion propulsion provides an affordable, compact, and plug-and-play solution for space debris mitigation by enabling the controlled deorbiting of retired spacecraft. The system features a modular 1"U" to 3"U" mounting frame that attaches externally via bolt-on or clamp-on connectors to satellites ranging from small CubeSats up to large 7000" kg" geostationary platforms without requiring structural modifications. The module incorporates a pressurized xenon or argon propellant tank, micro-metered flow control valves, a magnetic field-enhanced discharge chamber, an electron-emitting hollow cathode, and charged acceleration grids that accelerate positive ions to velocities above 30,000" m/s" to generate 1" to " 10" mN" of continuous thrust. Controlled by an internal ESP32 or STM32 microcontroller integrated with GPS and IMU tracking sensors, the system triggers automatically post-mission via a timer, telemetry threshold, or ground command to slowly lower the satellite's altitude. Power is drawn directly from the host satellite's solar arrays through buck converters that establish stable 3.3" V" and 5" V" rails, while a dedicated LoRa SX1278 module maintains independent ground telemetry communication. A neutralizer cathode releases electrons into the exhaust beam to maintain electrical neutrality, and the module guides the satellite into low Earth orbit (200" to " 300" km" ) where it burns up safely during atmospheric re-entry.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
