Mario Merino

Research projects

Below is a list of recent research projects in which I participate or have participated:

2021–2025: ZARATHUSTRA: Revolutionizing advanced electrodeless plasma thrusters for space transportation, supported by the European Research Council, ERC-Starting Grant program. Grant number: 950466. Principal Investigator: Mario Merino.
2021–2023: COMIT: COmpact MIni plasma Thruster for New Space applications, supported by Agencia Estatal de Investigación, Proyectos I+D+i Pruebas de Concepto 2021. Grant number: PDC2021-120911-I00. Principal Investigator: Eduardo Ahedo, Pablo Fajardo.
2021–2024: CHEOPS MEDIUM: Consortium for Hall Effect Orbital Propulsion System Phase 2, covering MEDIUM POWER needs, supported by the H2020 Programme (European Commission). Grant number: 101004226. Principal Investigator: Eduardo Ahedo. Project Coordinator: SAFRAN (France).
2021–2024: CHEOPS LOW: Consortium for Hall Effect Orbital Propulsion System Phase 2, covering LOW POWER needs, supported by the H2020 Programme (European Commission). Grant number: 101004331. Principal Investigator: Eduardo Ahedo. Project Coordinator: SAFRAN (France).
2021–2023: ASPIRE: Advanced Space Propulsion for Innovative Realization of space Exploration, supported by the H2020 Programme (European Commission). Grant number: 101004366. Principal Investigator: Eduardo Ahedo. Project Coordinator: SITAEL SPA (Italy).
2020–2023: SPEOS: Electric Space Propulsion for Earth Orbit Satellites, supported by the Ministry of Science and Innovation, National I+D plan, Spanish Government. Grant number: PID2019-108034RB-I00. Principal Investigators: Mario Merino, Pablo Fajardo.
2020–2022: MARETERRA: Resolviendo el transporte anómalo en motores de plasma de efecto Hall mediante técnicas data-driven robustas de análisis modal, supported by the Community of Madrid. Principal Investigator: Mario Merino, Filippo Terragni.
2020–2022: SIMTURB: Simulación Numérica de la Turbulencia en Propulsión Espacial Eléctrica: Sinergias con Plasmas de Fusión, supported by the Community of Madrid. Principal Investigator: Pablo Fajardo, Jose Miguel Reynolds.
2019–2022: HIPATIA: HelIcon PlasmA Thruster for In-space Applications, supported by the H2020 Programme (European Commission). Grant number: 870542. Principal Investigator: Pablo Fajardo. Project Manager: SENER Aerospace (Spain).
2019–2021: EDDA: European Direct-Drive Architecture, supported by the H2020 Programme (European Commission). Grant number: 870470. Principal Investigator: Eduardo Ahedo. Project Manager: Thales Alenia Space (France).
2019–2023: UC3M-ISDEFE Space Chair, supported by ISDEFE Ingeniería de Sistemas para la Defensa de España. Principal Investigator: Pablo Fajardo.
2019–2022: MFOC, Madrid Flight on Chip, supported by the Community of Madrid. Grant number: 49.520608.9.18. Principal Investigator: Juan Llorens. Project Manager: SENER Ingeniería y Sistemas.
2019–2022: MARTINLARA, Millimeter wave Array at Room Temperature for INstruments in Leo Altitude, supported by the Community of Madrid. Grant number: P2018/NMT-4333. Principal Investigator: Eduardo Ahedo.
2019–2021: PROMETEO, Plasma Propulsion and Nuclear Fusion: innovating space transport, supported by the Community of Madrid. Grant number: Y2018/NMT4750. Principal Investigator: Eduardo Ahedo.
2018–2020: Improvements in Helicon Antenna Thruster RF-Plasma Discharge Coupling for its Evolution towards Space Application, supported by ESA GSTP Program. Grant number: RFP/3-15534/18/NL/KML/va. Principal Investigator: Pablo Fajardo.
2018–2020: UC3M-SENER Chair, supported by SENER Ingeniería y Sistemas. Principal Investigator: Eduardo Ahedo.
2018–2020: NanoStar, supported by the SUDOE Programme (European Commission). Principal Investigator: Mario Merino. Project Manager: Aerospace Valley (France).
2017–2020: MINOTOR, MagnetIc NOzzle thruster with elecTron cyclOtron Resonance, supported by the H2020 Programme (European Commission). Grant number: 730028. Principal Investigator: Mario Merino. Project Manager: ONERA (France).
2017–2019: PE3, Propulsores Electromagnéticos para la Exploración Espacial, supported by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, National I+D plan, Spanish Government. Grant number: ESP2016-75887-P. Principal Investigators: Eduardo Ahedo, Pablo Fajardo.
2016–2020: CHEOPS, Consortium for Hall Effect Orbital Propulsion System, supported by the H2020 Programme (European Commission). Grant number: 730135. Principal Investigator: Eduardo Ahedo. Project Manager: SAFRAN-Snecma (France).
2016–2018: Technological prospective in the aerospace field, supported by ISDEFE S.A. (specific framework contract). Principal Investigator: Pablo Fajardo.
2016–2017: Model and experimental validation of spacecraft thruster interactions for electric propulsion thrusters plume, supported by ESA. Contract number: 4000116180/15/NL/PS. Principal Investigator: Eduardo Ahedo. Project Manager: Airbus Defense and Space (France).
2016: Experimental campaign for the characterization and optimization of the HPT-05 Helicon Plasma Thruster prototype, supported by SENER Ingeniería y Sistemas. Principal Investigator: Pablo Fajardo.
2015–2016: Design and manufacturing of a Langmuir Probe for the use in RF Generated Plasmas, supported by ESA. Contract number: 5001017118. Principal Investigator: Mario Merino. Project Manager: SENER Ingeniería y Sistemas.
2013–2015: Cámara de Ensayo de Propulsión Eléctrica, supported by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, National program for scientific infrastructure and equipment, Spanish Government. Grant number: UNC313-4E-1552. Principal Investigators: Eduardo Ahedo, Pablo Fajardo.
2013–2016: Propulsión Espacial por Plasma: Simulación y Experimentación, supported by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, National I+D plan, Spanish Government. Grant number: ESP2013-41052-P Principal Investigators: Eduardo Ahedo, Pablo Fajardo.
2013–2016: LEOSWEEP, improving Low Earth Orbit Security with Enhanced Electric Propulsion, supported by the European 7th Framework Programme (European Commission). Grant number: 607457. Principal Investigator: Eduardo Ahedo. Project Manager: SENER Ingeniería y Sistemas.
2013–2015: HPT, Helicon Plasma Thrusters for Space Missions, supported by ESA. Contract number: 4000107292/12/NL/CO. Principal Investigator: Eduardo Ahedo. Project Manager: SENER Ingeniería y Sistemas.
2013–2014: IBSIOD, Ion Beam Shepherd In-Orbit Demonstrator, supported by ESA. Contract number: 4000109292/13/NL/MV. Principal Investigator: Eduardo Ahedo. Project Manager: DEIMOS SPACE.
2012–2013: Plasma detachment mechanisms in propulsive magnetic nozzles, supported by the EOARD, USAF. Contract number: FA8655-12-1-2043. Principal Investigator: Eduardo Ahedo.
2010–2011: Magnetic nozzles for plasma thrusters: acceleration, thrust, and detachment mechanisms, supported by the EOARD, USAF. Contract number: FA8655-10-1-3085. Principal Investigator: Eduardo Ahedo.
2010–2011: Ion Beam Shepherd for Contactless Debris Removal, supported by ESA. Contract number: 4000101447/10/NL/CBi. Principal Investigator: Claudio Bombardelli.
2010–2013: Propulsión Espacial por Plasma, supported by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, National I+D plan, Spanish Government. Grant number: AYA2010-16699. Principal Investigator: Eduardo Ahedo.
2008–2010: HPH.com, Helicon Plasma Hydrazyne COmbined Micro, supported by the European 7th Framework Programme (European Commission). Grant number: 218862. Principal Investigator: Eduardo Ahedo. Project Manager: Università degli Studi di Padova (Italy).