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L3Harris Technologies has delivered three Advanced Electric Propulsion System (AEPS) thrusters to NASA for final testing before integrating them into the Power and Propulsion Element of the lunar-orbiting Gateway station.
“Electric propulsion is an innovative solution that will enable efficient transport of cargo and other payloads to the Moon, Mars and other destinations,” said Kristin Houston, President, Space Propulsion and Power Systems, Aerojet Rocketdyne, L3Harris. “When coupled with a nuclear power source, AEPS also opens new maneuverability options for deep space spacecraft.”
The AEPS will be the most powerful electric propulsion ever flown, capable of accelerating spacecraft to extremely high speeds over time using a fraction of the propellant required by conventional chemical propulsion systems. The system consists of three 12-kilowatt Hall thrusters that are more than twice as powerful as current in-space electric ones. The L3Harris thrusters will help deliver Gateway to its unique lunar orbit and maintain its position.
Gateway is a habitable space station designed to orbit the Moon and serve as a staging point for astronaut and cargo missions to and from the lunar surface. NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland leads the Solar Electric Propulsion project for the agency, developing next-generation technology and capabilities to enable Artemis missions and prepare for human missions to Mars.
