To coincide with ILA Berlin 2026, Raumfahrt Concret is publishing a new special issue titled “Space and Politics”. The issue explores the role of space in the interplay between science, business, technology, and political frameworks.

On page 75, our research institute presents beam-based technologies and electric propulsion systems for space travel from the interdisciplinary unit “Tools”.

Holger Mann, Member of the German Bundestag for the Leipzig I constituency, highlights in the issue the importance of IOM research for technological sovereignty, security, sustainable propulsion technologies, and Leipzig as a research hub. Lattice ion engines, in particular, are considered a key technology for efficient space propulsion.

At the IOM, this field of research is based on long-standing expertise in the development and use of lattice ion sources. Due to their close technical relationship with electric space propulsion systems, the institute has been conducting research on lattice ion engines for more than 20 years. The work includes, among other things, jet diagnostic procedures, laser spectroscopic characterization methods for plasmas and ion beams, as well as simulations of lattice erosion.

The special issue is available on the website of Raumfahrt Concret.