Tag: Power Systems
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What is a Power Processing Unit (PPU) for Thrusters?
A Power Processing Unit (PPU) for thrusters is a critical component in spacecraft propulsion systems. It serves the crucial function of converting the spacecraft’s primary electrical power—typically generated by solar panels or onboard batteries—into the specific forms and levels required to operate the thrusters effectively. This conversion is crucial for maintaining the required thrust levels,…
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What are Stirling Cryocoolers?
Stirling cryocoolers are advanced refrigeration systems designed to achieve cryogenic temperatures, typically below 120 Kelvin (-153.15°C). They operate based on the Stirling cycle, which involves cyclic compression and expansion of a working gas (usually helium) to produce cooling. These cryocoolers are known for their high efficiency, reliability, and ability to achieve very low temperatures, making…
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What is Cryogenic Temperature?
Cryogenic temperature refers to extremely low temperatures, typically below 120 Kelvin (-153.15°C), where materials exhibit unique physical properties that are not observed at higher temperatures. These properties include superconductivity, where certain materials conduct electricity without resistance; superfluidity, where fluids flow without viscosity; and significant changes in mechanical and electrical properties of materials. The study and…
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Thales Alenia Space Partners with ESA to Develop Argonaut Lunar Cargo Lander
Thales Alenia Space, joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), has signed a contract with the European Space Agency (ESA), worth € 862 Million, related to the design, the development and the delivery of the Lunar Descent Element (LDE) for ESA’s Argonaut Mission, including responsibility for mission design and integration. Planned to be launched…
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Blue Origin and Nimbus Partners to Advance Fuel Cell Technology for Space Power Systems
Nimbus Power Systems, a pioneering developer of advanced fuel cell technologies for heavy-duty vehicles, announced the successful completion of a fuel cell technology licensing agreement with Blue Origin to facilitate electric power and potable water production in space applications. Nimbus’ unique fuel cell technology features gravity and momentum independent water management, a critical enabler of…
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Blue Origin’s New Glenn Prepares for Inaugural Launch with Blue Ring Pathfinder
Blue Origin’s payload for New Glenn’s first mission, NG-1, is ready for launch this year. NG-1 will carry the company’s Blue Ring Pathfinder and mark the rocket’s first National Security Space Launch certification flight. The encapsulated payload will be integrated onto the launch vehicle following the hotfire. New Glenn will lift off from Blue Origin’s…
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L3Harris Delivers Next Generation RL10 Engine with 3D-Printed Copper Chamber to ULA
L3Harris Technologies has delivered the first RL10 engine that features a 3D-printed copper thrust chamber to United Launch Alliance (ULA). The latest iteration, called the RL10E-1, uses 3D printing to enable a 98% reduction in the number of parts that make up the thrust chamber. The engine is set to fly on a ULA Vulcan…
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NASA Awards $1.5 M to H.E.L.P.S. and Orbital Mining at Watts on the Moon Challenge
NASA has awarded a total of $1.5 million to two U.S. teams, Team H.E.L.P.S and Orbital Mining Corp., for their novel technology solutions addressing energy distribution, management, and storage as part of the agency’s Watts on the Moon Challenge. The innovations from this challenge aim to support NASA’s Artemis missions, which will establish long-term human…
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NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 Changes Astronauts Ahead of September Launch
NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, mission’s revised crew members, will launch at least by Tuesday, Sept. 24, on the agency’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission to the International Space Station (ISS). NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Stephanie Wilson, previously announced as crewmates, are eligible for reassignment on a future mission. Hague and Gorbunov…
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Yank Technologies to Develop Wireless Charging Solutions for NASA’s Autonomous Vehicles on the Moon
Yank Technologies, the developer of disruptive long-range, high-power wireless charging solutions, has been awarded two additional prestigious National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Contracts to develop wireless charging solutions for lunar applications. The NASA SBIR contracts allow small business innovators to be a part of the growing aerospace ecosystem. Yank…