Iodine Test Facility at the Institute of Space Systems

Iodine is increasingly considered a viable propellant for electric propulsion systems, combining high storage density with reduced cost compared to xenon. Its chemical reactivity and health risks, however, require specialized ground infrastructure. As part of the EU Horizon project BOOST, a dedicated iodine test facility is currently developed at the Institute of Space Systems, University of Stuttgart. The facility incorporates corrosion protection, iodine-compatible feed lines with multi-zone heating, and a containment architecture comprising a liquid-nitrogen-cooled cold plate, a downstream cold trap. The chamber itself is equipped with a helical fluid line allowing cooling or heating of the chamber walls, which opens possibility for various iodine handling procedures. Together these measures allow operation at background pressures of ≤ 10−3 Pa while ensuring safety of personnel and equipment. The paper outlines the design rationale, implementation, and operational procedures.