High-power solar electric propulsion is viewed by NASA as a vital and necessary future capability.
This crucial technology is flagged within NASA’s strategic roadmaps for exploration, science and advanced technology.
NASA issued late last week a Solar Electric Propulsion Demonstration Mission Concept Studies announcement – a step along the path to develop a flight demonstration mission. That mission would test and validate key capabilities and technologies required for future exploration elements such as a 300 kilowatt solar electric transfer vehicle.
What would such a technology enable in the future?
For one, solar electric propulsion could efficiently transport heavy payloads from low Earth orbit to higher orbits. This concept enables the delivery of payloads to low Earth orbit via conventional chemical rockets.
The use of solar electric propulsion could then spiral payloads out to higher energy orbits, including Lagrange point one, a potential assembly point in space between Earth and the Moon. This approach could facilitate missions to near Earth asteroids and other destinations in deep space.
Furthermore, NASA science missions could use solar electric propulsion to reach distant regions of the solar system, and commercial missions could use solar electric propulsion tugs to place, service, resupply, reposition and salvage space assets.
NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio is managing the broad agency announcement for the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate and relevant technology activities for the space agency’s Office of the Chief Technologist.
By Leonard David