Mario Merino has secured an ERC Proof of Concept grant for his NEPTUNE (Tandem Electrodeless Plasma Thrusters for Universal and Versatile in-Space Propulsion) project. The prestigious funding will accelerate the development of our novel Magnetic Arch Tandem (MAT) thruster, originally a result of the research conducted in the framework of ZARATHUSTRA.

NEPTUNE will contribute to making space exploration more sustainable and accessible by developing the next generation of propulsion systems. The project’s team will develop a functional prototype and rigorously test it in our vacuum chamber.

The Proof of Concept grant is designed to bridge the gap between pioneering research and real-world application, perfect for increasing the TRL (Technology Readiness Level) of our thruster. The funding will pave the way for a possible future commercialization of the MAT thruster.

Read more on the department’s website: https://aero.uc3m.es/2025/07/15/department-of-aerospace-engineering-secures-erc-proof-of-concept-grant-for-revolutionary-propulsion-technology/