1st German Electric Propulsion Conference
|
Innovations for the Future of Spaceflight
|
 |
Final Conference Programme and Book of Abstracts
The final conference programme and book of abstracts are now available, including the full schedule, presentation abstracts, and practical information for participants.
Locations and Arrival
Please note: The Welcome Reception and the conference take place at two different locations in Giessen.
Welcome Reception — Monday, 21 September 2026
Time: 17:00–21:00
Location: I. Physikalisches Institut (Institute of Experimental Physics I)
Justus Liebig University Giessen
Heinrich-Buff-Ring 16
35392 Giessen, Germany
Join us for the Welcome Reception at the Natural Sciences Campus (Campus Natur- und Lebenswissenschaften, Seltersberg). Conference registration will also be available during the reception. The location is marked on the campus map below.
Natural Sciences Campus — click the map to enlarge.
Conference Venue — 22–24 September 2026
Location: Justus Liebig University Giessen, Main Building (Universitätshauptgebäude)
Lecture hall: Biologischer Hörsaal (Biology Lecture Hall), Room 232
Ludwigstraße 23
35390 Giessen, Germany
All conference sessions take place in the Biology Lecture Hall at the city-centre campus (Universitätszentrum). From Tuesday onward, the registration desk will be located outside the lecture hall and staffed throughout conference hours. The main building is marked on the campus map below.
City-centre campus — click the map to enlarge.
Information for Speakers
Contributed presentations: 15 minutes in total — 12 minutes for the presentation followed by 3 minutes for questions and discussion.
Keynote lectures: 45 minutes including questions and discussion.
Please keep to your allocated time to help us maintain the single-track programme and preserve time for discussion during the breaks.
Submitting Your Presentation
Please send your presentation to gepc@uni-giessen.de by Sunday, 20 September 2026, or bring it on a USB stick to the registration desk during the break before your session. Please name the file after the presenting author.
PDF is the preferred format. PowerPoint files are also accepted; please embed all fonts and videos. Presentation files will be copied to the conference computer and deleted after the conference.
If you prefer to use your own laptop, please let us know in advance by email and test the connection in the lecture hall during the break before your session. An HDMI connection is available; please bring any adapter required for your device.
About GEPC 2026
The 1st German Electric Propulsion Conference 2026 brings together researchers, industry and agency representatives, and early-career scientists from across Germany to discuss current developments in electric space propulsion.
GEPC provides a dedicated forum for the German electric propulsion community to exchange scientific results, strengthen professional networks, and identify opportunities for joint activities. A particular aim is to give early-career researchers, especially PhD students, an opportunity to present their work and connect with colleagues from academia, research institutes, agencies, and industry.
The three-day conference follows a single-track format without parallel sessions. The programme includes 35 contributed presentations and six invited keynote lectures, alongside discussions and opportunities for informal exchange.
Beyond the 2026 meeting, the organisers hope that GEPC will develop into a recurring forum, hosted by different universities and research institutions across Germany at intervals of approximately two to three years.
Scientific Scope
The scientific programme of GEPC 2026 covers the following topics:
- Plasma diagnostics and experimental characterisation of electric propulsion systems
- Numerical modelling and simulation
- Air-breathing electric propulsion and very low Earth orbit applications
- Iodine and alternative propellant technologies
- Gridded ion thrusters and arc-based propulsion
- Power electronics and power processing units
- High-power electric propulsion and European projects
The conference also provides opportunities to discuss shared research infrastructure and cooperation between academia, research institutes, agencies, and industry.
Organisers
GEPC 2026 is hosted and organised by Justus Liebig University Giessen.
Conference Chair:
Prof. Dr. Peter J. Klar
Organising Committee:
Dr. Kristof Holste
Dr. Torsten Henning
Fiene B. Bremer
K. Konstantin Keil
Rodrigo Sandoval Rodriguez
Jennifer Döring
Isabella Kaindl
Sponsor
GEPC 2026 is kindly supported by ArianeGroup, whose sponsorship contributes to the conference catering and helps provide a welcoming setting for scientific exchange.
Contact
For questions about the conference, registration, presentations, or practical arrangements, please contact the organising committee.
Email: gepc@uni-giessen.de
1st German Electric Propulsion Conference 2026
22–24 September 2026
Justus Liebig University Giessen
Innovations for the Future of Spaceflight