Advanced Solar Electric Propulsion

Shown here is a 13 kilowatt hall thruster being evaluated at nasa s glenn.

Advanced solar electric propulsion.

Bringing together expertise in advanced brayton power conversion systems concentrated solar collector technology and space system design and analysis sandia national laboratories partnering with northrup grumman aerospace systems and the university of michigan has developed a solar electric propulsion concept capable of a wide array of missions for nasa. Arrm would use the new 50 kw solar electric propulsion robotic spacecraft fly it to a near earth asteroid and. Advanced solar electric propulsion will be needed for future human expeditions into deep space including to mars. This multipurpose space vehicle.

Nasa has selected aerojet rocketdyne inc. This is the equivalent of 17 trips around the world. The solar electric propulsion project has developed solar arrays that are lighter stronger more compact and less expensive than those currently available. Solar electric propulsion provides such high fuel economy that it reduces the amount of propellant required onboard vehicles for deep space missions by as much as 90 percent.

Sep has a significantly higher specific impulse than normal chemical rockets thus requiring. Nasa gov brings you the latest images videos and news from america s space agency. Of redmond washington to design and develop an advanced electric propulsion system that will significantly advance the nation s commercial space capabilities and enable deep space exploration missions including the robotic portion of nasa s asteroid redirect mission arm and its journey to mars. Solar electric propulsion is presently flying on dawn which uses 2 3 kw nasa solar electric propulsion technology application readiness nstar engines.

As of 2019 over 500 spacecraft operated throughout the solar system use electric propulsion for station keeping orbit raising or primary propulsion. This technology has been exploited in a variety of spacecraft by the european space agency the japanese space agency indian space research organisation and nasa. Get the latest updates on nasa missions watch nasa tv live and learn about our quest to reveal the unknown and benefit all humankind. Other thruster technologies are emerging with higher power thrust and specific impulse isp capabilities.

Our portfolio spans from fleets of solar electric and hybrid catamarans to solar electric race and speed boats. In the future the most advanced electric thrusters may be able to impart a delta v of 100 km s which is enough to take a spacecraft to the outer planets of the solar system with nuclear power. Solar electric propulsion sep refers to the combination of solar cells and electric thrusters to propel a spacecraft through outer space.