Magnethruster: a propellantless propulsion system for satellites based on the Lorentz force

The increasing use of CubeSat platforms in Low Earth Orbit has highlighted the need for propulsion and orbit control solutions compatible with severe mass, volume, and power constraints, particularly in relation to orbital lifetime management and end-of-life disposal. As CubeSats are progressively employed in missions requiring sustained orbital authority, such as altitude maintenance, differential drag compensation, and long-term trajectory shaping, conventional propulsion systems face intrinsic limitations associated with finite onboard propellant and subsystem complexity. These constraints motivate the investigation of actuation concepts capable of providing continuous orbit control through very low, sustained accelerations, without relying on stored reaction mass. This thesis investigates a propulsion concept based on the Lorentz interaction between an onboard electric current and the Earth’s geomagnetic field, hereafter referred to as magnethruster. The work focuses on assessing the physical consistency of the concept and on analyzing its long-term effects on orbital motion. The study combines electromagnetic modelling, qualitative experimental validation, and orbital dynamics simulation to examine the feasibility of Lorentz-force-based actuation as an alternative approach for orbital control and end-of-life disposal in LEO, under constraints typical of CubeSat platforms. The work was carried out during an internship at GAUSS Srl and developed within the COSMO project.