Ion engines

Momentus’ Latest-Generation Thruster Achieves 350 Test Cycles in Ground Testing

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, July 29, 2021
Technology, Construction & Property, Engineering, Other Technology, Aerospace, Manufacturing, Alternative energy, Energy, Other Construction & Property, Spacecraft propulsion, Ion engines, Emerging technologies, Vigoride, Ion thruster, Thruster, Articles, Microwave electrothermal thruster, Vehicles, Transport

Momentus Inc. ("Momentus" or the "Company"), a U.S. commercial space company that plans to offer in-space infrastructure services, today announced that its latest-generation Microwave Electrothermal Thruster (MET) has completed 350 test cycles during the initial stages of life testing - the final stage of the thrusters ground test campaign.

Key Points: 
  • Momentus Inc. ("Momentus" or the "Company"), a U.S. commercial space company that plans to offer in-space infrastructure services, today announced that its latest-generation Microwave Electrothermal Thruster (MET) has completed 350 test cycles during the initial stages of life testing - the final stage of the thrusters ground test campaign.
  • View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210729005573/en/
    Momentus latest-generation thruster undergoes testing in a vacuum chamber at company headquarters.
  • The Company has completed the manufacturing of two Vigoride vehicles, one with a 30W thruster and a second with a 550W thruster.
  • The latest-generation thruster has reached 350 cycles with no detectable performance degradation, said Momentus Chief Technology Officer Rob Schwarz.

Max Polyakov's SETS receives US patent for stabilized discharge power supply for its Hall thrusters

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, June 2, 2021
Spacecraft propulsion, Ion engines, Propulsion, Spaceflight, Electromagnetism, Emerging technologies, Plasma physics, Hall-effect thruster, Plasma propulsion engine, Electrically powered spacecraft propulsion, Thruster, Plasma

DNIPRO, Ukraine, June 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- SETS, a provider of low-power plasma thrusters and electric propulsion systems owned by noted space entrepreneur Dr. Max Polyakov, has received a US patent for stabilized discharge power supply for its Hall thrusters.

Key Points: 
  • DNIPRO, Ukraine, June 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- SETS, a provider of low-power plasma thrusters and electric propulsion systems owned by noted space entrepreneur Dr. Max Polyakov, has received a US patent for stabilized discharge power supply for its Hall thrusters.
  • The patent makes SETS the only company in the world that is capable of manufacturing high-stability propulsion systems based on the Hall effect.
  • Usage of a stabilized discharge power supply will allow more flexibility in regulating the parameters of an electric rocket propulsion system in long-term operation onboard a spacecraft.
  • A stabilized discharge power supply for Hall-effect thrusters ensures a steady value of thrust during long-term operation, and when changing the parameters of the onboard power supply of the spacecraft.

Maxar and Busek Thruster System for NASA Lunar Gateway Passes Critical Milestone

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, March 18, 2021
Spacecraft, Spaceflight, Spacecraft propulsion, Ion engines, Artemis program, Joint ventures, Busek, Hall-effect thruster, Lunar Gateway, Advanced Electric Propulsion System, Power and Propulsion Element

The electric propulsion subsystem for the PPE spacecraft features Maxar-built high-power control electronics (PPU-6000), a Moog xenon feed system, and four Busek-built BHT-6000 Hall effect thrusters.

Key Points: 
  • The electric propulsion subsystem for the PPE spacecraft features Maxar-built high-power control electronics (PPU-6000), a Moog xenon feed system, and four Busek-built BHT-6000 Hall effect thrusters.
  • Together, this system is 30 percent more powerful than any SEP system flown by these companies.
  • Busek's thrusters will help enable highly efficient electric orbit-raising, station keeping, and maneuvering for Gateway.
  • "The SEP systems we are evolving for PPE are a fantastic example of innovative commercial technology with great flight heritage being leveraged for NASA programs.

Busek Ships First LEO to GEO Capable Electric Propulsion System

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Tuesday, February 23, 2021
Ion engines, Spaceflight, Propulsion, Vehicles, Busek, Hall-effect thruster, Spacecraft propulsion, Thruster, Electrically powered spacecraft propulsion, Colloid thruster, Ion thruster

Hall thrusters are one form of highly efficient spacecraft electric propulsion which utilize solar energy and very small amounts of propellant to create thrust.

Key Points: 
  • Hall thrusters are one form of highly efficient spacecraft electric propulsion which utilize solar energy and very small amounts of propellant to create thrust.
  • The undisclosed customer ordered the system roughly twelve months ago for a Government mission launching later this year.
  • The modular flight system features a Busek-designed radiation tolerant power processor with variable output, xenon feed system, and long-life thruster assembly.
  • About Busek Co. Inc.: Busek is a leader in the development and manufacture of high performance in-space propulsion, sensors, and power systems.

Earth Observant Inc. Successfully Tests Next-generation Propulsion Technology to Support Future Very Low Earth Orbit Missions

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Thursday, February 18, 2021
Ion engines, Spacecraft propulsion, Spaceflight, Emerging technologies, Earth orbits, Hall-effect thruster, Thruster, Low Earth orbit, Vehicles, Atmosphere-breathing electric propulsion, Iodine Satellite

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --Earth Observant Inc. (EOI) successfully completed a series of tests on its internally developed Hall-effect thruster that introduces new propellant types while maintaining thruster efficiency and minimizing erosion.

Key Points: 
  • SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --Earth Observant Inc. (EOI) successfully completed a series of tests on its internally developed Hall-effect thruster that introduces new propellant types while maintaining thruster efficiency and minimizing erosion.
  • This technology supports EOI's core mission of operating a Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) constellation of Earth Imaging satellites to deliver ultra-high resolution image data.
  • This propulsion tech supports EOI's core mission of operating in very low orbits for commercial & defense applications.
  • This propulsion technology enables crucial satellite operating maneuvers, including drag makeup, orbital plane changes, upper stage payload ferrying, and controlled deorbiting.

Apollo Fusion, Inc. Propulsion Systems Selected by Saturn Satellite Networks Inc.

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, December 16, 2020
Spaceflight, Spacecraft propulsion, Spacecraft, Outer space, Ion engines, Astrodynamics, Geostationary orbit, Hall-effect thruster, Apollo, Saturn, Ion thruster, Electrically powered spacecraft propulsion

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Dec. 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Saturn Satellite Networks Inc. has selected Apollo Fusion propulsion systems for Saturn's NationSat geostationary communications satellites.

Key Points: 
  • MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Dec. 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Saturn Satellite Networks Inc. has selected Apollo Fusion propulsion systems for Saturn's NationSat geostationary communications satellites.
  • Saturn selected Apollo Fusion because Apollo's unique Electric Propulsion system supports the Saturn objectives to enable its NationSat small GEO sats to perform functions of much larger satellites, hence substantially reducing the barrier to spacecraft development and manufacturing.
  • Apollo CEO Mike Cassidy added, "We're thrilled to be selected by Saturn to provide electric propulsion for their NationSat small GEO sats.
  • Apollo Fusion, Inc. designs and builds state of the art Hall thruster propulsion systems for a variety of government and commercial satellite programs.

Ball Aerospace Completes Successful Small Satellite, Green Fuel Mission

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, August 20, 2020
Ion engines, Spacecraft, Spaceflight, Rocketry, Aerospace engineering, Spacecraft propulsion, NASA, Rocket propellants, Green Propellant Infusion Mission, Iodine Satellite

"The successful completion of this mission advances in-space propulsion for the entire user community, which opens up the possibility for a variety of missions," said Dr. Makenzie Lystrup, vice president and general manager, Civil Space, Ball Aerospace.

Key Points: 
  • "The successful completion of this mission advances in-space propulsion for the entire user community, which opens up the possibility for a variety of missions," said Dr. Makenzie Lystrup, vice president and general manager, Civil Space, Ball Aerospace.
  • Ball designed and built the small satellite, which contains NASA's first opportunity to demonstrate the practical capabilities of a "green" propellant and propulsion system in orbit an alternative to conventional chemical propulsion systems.
  • GPIM is part of NASA's Technology Demonstration Missions program within the Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD), and Christopher McLean of Ball Aerospace serves as the principal investigator.
  • Ball Aerospace and its partners tested the satellite thruster capabilities by verifying the propulsion subsystem, propellant performance, thruster performance and spacecraft attitude control performance.

Advanced Electric Propulsion Thruster for NASA’s Gateway Achieves Full Power Demonstration

Retrieved on: 
Friday, November 8, 2019
Ion engines, Spacecraft propulsion, GenCorp, Spaceflight, California, Propulsion, Canoga Park, Los Angeles, Advanced Electric Propulsion System, Hall effect, AEPS, NeXT, Hall-effect thruster

PASADENA, Calif., Nov. 08, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aerojet Rocketdyne and NASA recently demonstrated an Advanced Electric Propulsion System (AEPS) thruster at full power for the first time, achieving an important program milestone.

Key Points: 
  • PASADENA, Calif., Nov. 08, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aerojet Rocketdyne and NASA recently demonstrated an Advanced Electric Propulsion System (AEPS) thruster at full power for the first time, achieving an important program milestone.
  • Our AEPS thruster has demonstrated the high levels of power needed to operate the Power and Propulsion Element, and by extension, the entire Gateway, said Aerojet Rocketdyne CEO and President Eileen Drake.
  • With a successful full power test complete, Aerojet Rocketdyne is ready for the next phase of our advanced electric propulsion system in support of NASAs Artemis program.
  • Each string is comprised of a Xenon Hall thruster, a power processing unit that controls the electric power to the thruster, and a Xenon flow controller which controls the flow of Xenon to the thruster.

Riverside Research performs Hall-effect thruster experiments to investigate more efficient uses of plasma in propulsion

Retrieved on: 
Friday, April 5, 2019
Physical sciences, Natural sciences, Physics, Ion engines, Spacecraft propulsion, Hall-effect thruster, Thruster, Plasma, Hall effect

Riverside Research's multidisciplinary Open Innovation Center experts conduct research to improve the propulsion community's ability to understand how ground test conditions influence thruster operations.

Key Points: 
  • Riverside Research's multidisciplinary Open Innovation Center experts conduct research to improve the propulsion community's ability to understand how ground test conditions influence thruster operations.
  • The Riverside Research plasma research group performs Hall-effect thruster experiments in their large vacuum chamber, which emulates a low-earth-orbit environment.This research is intended to collect data from Hall-effect thrusters operating under precisely-controlled plasma and magnetic field parameters.
  • "Our plasma research facility and the experts who support it are an exceptional example of the power of multi-disciplinary research and development," says Riverside Research President and CEO, Dr. Steve Omick.
  • Riverside Research conducts independent research in machine learning, trusted and resilient systems, optics and photonics, electromagnetics, plasma physics, and biomedical engineering.

Sunrise And Phase Four Partner To Bring Next-Gen Electric Propulsion To Japan's Space Economy

Retrieved on: 
Friday, March 22, 2019
Spacecraft propulsion, Ion engines, Electrically powered spacecraft propulsion, Thruster, Propulsion, Vehicles, Force

As part of a three-year agreement, Sunrise will be bringing Maxwell, Phase Four's turnkey electric propulsion solution for small satellites (20-200kg) and other spacecraft, to market in Japan.

Key Points: 
  • As part of a three-year agreement, Sunrise will be bringing Maxwell, Phase Four's turnkey electric propulsion solution for small satellites (20-200kg) and other spacecraft, to market in Japan.
  • Designed for scale manufacturing, Maxwell brings the performance and efficiency of traditional, expensive electric engines to new small satellite constellations.
  • This means that its thruster is easily manufactured at scale and is fuel agnosticall while achieving the performance of legacy electric propulsion systems.
  • "Cost-effective electric propulsion is crucial to our customers' space missions, and Phase Four's Maxwell is a game changer," said Hiroshi Nashimoto, president and CEO of Sunrise.