The other Brazilian institution that started research in the area of ​​propulsion was the Physics Institute of the University of Brasília (UnB), in the Plasma Physics Laboratory (LFP). Initially, from 1994, experimental work was oriented towards the development of Kaufmann-type ion sources. In a later phase, from 2002, Hall-type Plasma Thrusters began to be developed with the support of the UNIESPAÇO PROGRAM of the AEB.

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One of the main positive consequences of the projects supported by the UNIESPAÇO program in Brazil was the increase in the training of undergraduate and graduate students in the space sector throughout the country. It is important to emphasize that this program was fundamental for the implementation, improvement, and strengthening of the space sector at UNB (University of Brasília). In 2012, the undergraduate course in Aerospace Engineering was created at the current FCT/UnB (Faculty of Science and Technology of the University of Brasília) in Gama. Subsequently, in 2020, a specialization course in Astrophysics and Space Environment was implemented at IF/UnB (Institute of Physics of the University of Brasília).

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Historically, starting in 2008, other research groups in electric propulsion began operating in Brazil, mainly at the Propulsion and Combustion Laboratory (LCP) of INPE in Cachoeira Paulista - SP. The LPEL - Electric Propulsion Laboratory was created, and at UnB, the Advanced Propulsion Laboratory (LPAv) of the Aerospace Engineering course at the Faculty of Technology of Gama FGA/UnB was established. In that same year, a proposal for a DEEP SPACE MISSION stimulated and motivated the groups involved with electric propulsion. The ASTER Mission to a triple asteroid system using electric propulsion was intensely studied and discussed, but unfortunately, it did not receive support for its realization.

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In 2008, the "Brazilian Electric Propulsion Network" was established, and the FIRST BRAZILIAN SCHOOL OF SPACE ELECTRIC PROPULSION was created and organized at INPE in 2008. The event took place between July 1st and 11th, 2008, and the program covered the following topics:

- Space Missions

- Orbital Dynamics

- Chemical Thrusters

- Electric Thrusters

- Advanced Propulsion

- Space Systems Engineering

 

The classes were taught by national and international professors and researchers.

 

The NATIONAL professors were Dr. Gilberto M. Sandonato (LAP-INPE), Prof. José Leonardo Ferreira (LFP-IF-UnB), Rodrigo Marques Intini (LCP-INPE), Paolo Gessini (at the time at INPE), Marco Antonio S. Mineccuci (IEAv-CTA) and Fernando de Souza Costa (LCP-INPE).

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The INTERNATIONAL participants were Dr. Edgar Choueiri (Phys. Inst.-Princeton, USA), Dr. Cristina Bramanti (ESA), Dr. Ismat Rudwan (Qinetic, UK), Dr. Neil Wallace (Qinetic, UK), Dr. Roger Walker (ESA), and Prof. Stephen Gabriel (Univ. of Southampton, UK).

 

However, despite collaborations between groups, the research proceeded along essentially independent lines. The lack of industry involvement was also a factor inhibiting the development of the area in Brazil.

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The last event in this area was an Electric Propulsion Workshop organized in 2019 at INPE in São José dos Campos, São Paulo. The event was organized by the then Director of the Satellite and Space Platform Area of ​​INPE, Dr. Marcos Chamon, current President of the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB). The event was important to re-establish the discussion on the subject. At the time, there was a lack of a new forum for the area of ​​Electric Propulsion, where discussions and presentations of research and technologies could point to the perspectives of the area in Brazil. The FIRST ELECTRIC PROPULSION WORKSHOP in Brazil took place in 2019. It was broad, because unlike the 1st ELECTRIC PROPULSION SCHOOL, it had a large participation not only from the academic area but mainly from the Aerospace Sector industries. Several projects and studies were presented, which allowed for technical discussions among the different national actors in the sector.

 

The 2nd Brazilian School and Workshop on Electric Space Propulsion in Brazil have been combined to hold the 2nd Brazilian / Inter-American School and Workshop on Electric Space Propulsion, JBIS-WESP 2026, which will take place between March 9 and 13 at FINATEC located in Brasília-DF, on the UnB Campus in the north wing.

 

The objectives of JBIS-WESP will be:

- To contribute to the training of personnel for the space sector with a special focus on the training of researchers and technicians for the specific area of ​​electric space propulsion.

- To create a permanent forum for discussions and ideas among researchers and technicians in the field in Brazil, involving professionals from Universities, Technical Schools, Research Institutions and Companies in the Aerospace Sector.

- To enable interaction between researchers from the international community in the field with national researchers and technicians, also seeking to especially stimulate researchers from Latin America involved in the space sector.