Tag: Electric Propulsion Thrusters
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NASA’s Psyche Spacecraft Begins its Journey to Explore Metal-Rich Asteroid
NASA’s Psyche spacecraft is on its voyage to an asteroid of the same name, a metal-rich world that could tell us more about the formation of rocky planets. Psyche successfully launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Integrated into the spacecraft is the agency’s…
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Maxar Built Psyche Spacecraft Performing Well After Launch
NASA’s longest mission to use commercial solar electric propulsion (SEP) is underway after the launch Psyche mission. Maxar Space Systems, a provider of comprehensive space technologies, built the unique spacecraft chassis based on the Maxar 1300 series bus, the world’s most trusted space platform. The Maxar Space Systems-built Psyche chassis spread its two solar arrays…
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Benchmark Awarded Second Contract by AFRL to Test New Thrusters on Non-Toxic Fuel
Tapped to help U.S. defense agencies deploy safer propellant alternatives to hydrazine, Benchmark Space Systems announced a two-year, $2.81 million AFRL SPRINT (Space Propulsion Research and Innovation for Neutralizing Satellite Threats) award to further develop and test flight-optimized thrusters running on ASCENT (Advanced Spacecraft Energetic Non-Toxic) fuel. It is Benchmark’s second SPRINT award in two…
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Exotrail to Provide Electric Propulsion Systems for Muon Space’s Climate Constellation
Muon Space, a climate satellite company revolutionizing the way Earth is monitored from space, has selected Exotrail, the end-to-end space mobility solutions provider, to supply five of its spaceware electric propulsion systems to propel the next generation of its ESPA-class spacecraft currently in development at Muon Space’s manufacturing facility in Mountain View, California. These units…
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Phase Four Selected by AFWERX to Develop Critical Technology for Electric Propulsion
Phase Four announced that it has been selected by AFWERX for a Tactical Funding Increase (TACFI) contract in the amount of $4.26M focused on developing a Propellant Decomposition Chamber for propellant-agnostic electric propulsion to address the most pressing challenges in the Department of the Air Force (DAF). The Air Force Research Laboratory and AFWERX have…
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NASA and Aerojet Rocketdyne Begin Testing on Cutting-Edge Solar Electric Propulsion Thrusters
Engineers from NASA and Aerojet Rocketdyne are beginning qualification testing on the cutting-edge solar electric propulsion (SEP) thrusters that will change the in-space propulsion game. The culmination of this work will see these innovative thrusters fly on Gateway beginning in 2025, making it the most powerful SEP spacecraft ever flown. Gateway is a lunar space…
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BepiColombo Mission Gears Up for Third Mercury Flyby
The ESA/JAXA BepiColombo mission is gearing up for its next close flyby of Mercury when it will pass the planet’s surface at an altitude of about 236 km. This is the third of six gravity assist flybys at Mercury that ESA’s spacecraft operation team is guiding BepiColombo through. The flybys, together with more than 15…
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Busek Delivers High-Performance Electric Propulsion Systems for Government and Commercial Space Missions
Busek is one of the leaders in the development and manufacture of high-performance in-space thrusters, sensors, and subsystems. From technology pathfinders to turnkey systems for satellite constellations, the firm’s products provide thrust for challenging government and commercial missions. Busek’s broad technology portfolio, experience across multiple space propulsion disciplines, and unique manufacturing, test, and flight expertise,…
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ENPULSION Introduces New Field Emission Electric Propulsion Thruster for Small Satellites
ENPULSION GmbH a space tech company developing one of the most advanced propulsion solutions for small sats to a large number of worldwide satellite platform integrators has introduced a new electric propulsion thruster for small satellites. The ENPULSION NANO has a dynamic thrust range of 10 to 350 µN and a nominal thrust of 330…
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Busek Powers the Future of Spaceflight with 35 Years of Experience in Propulsion Systems
Busek Space and Propulsion Systems, a US-based space company, is powering the future of spaceflight with its range of propulsion systems in space. Their flight heritage started in 2006 with a 200 W Hall Thruster on TacSat-2, which was the first US Hall Thruster in space. They have also pioneered in developing and deploying first…