{"project":{"acronym":"","projectId":10350,"title":"High Power High Thrust Ion Thruster (HPHTion): 50 CM Ion Thruster for Near-Earth Applications","primaryTaxonomyNodes":[{"taxonomyNodeId":10545,"taxonomyRootId":8816,"parentNodeId":10542,"level":3,"code":"TX01.2.3","title":"Electromagnetic","definition":"This area covers electric propulsion that interacts with a reaction mass using electromagnetic fields.","exampleTechnologies":"Pulsed inductive thruster, magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) thruster, electromagnetic launch, e.g. double-sided linear induction motor (DSLIM)","hasChildren":false,"hasInteriorContent":true}],"startTrl":3,"currentTrl":5,"endTrl":5,"benefits":"EDA's plan to pursue this technology beyond Phase II, in collaboration with UM and Aerojet, is to develop production of flight hardware for NASA, DoD, and commercial vendors. Aerojet has also expressed significant interest in transitioning the technology into their propulsion system lineup as detailed in their letter of support for this technology development.
Successful development of a 25 kW thruster would support NASA cargo propulsion requirements such as those addressed in the HEFT report which described SEP needs with power levels extending from 30 kW to 300 kW. A single high power engine such as the proposed HPHTion would reduce system complexity by reducing engine count required to process the power. The engine would also support NASA space science endeavors. Operating at high thrust to power (~50mN/kW), the engine with the added bonus of long lifetime could also support DoD as well as commercial orbit transfer needs. In this regard, impact of the proposed activity would be broad with cross governmental agency applicability in addition to its relevance to commercial satellite interests from the private sector.","description":"Advances in high power, photovoltaic technology has enabled the possibility of reasonably sized, high specific power, high power, solar arrays. At high specific powers, power levels ranging from 50 to several hundred kW are feasible. Coupled with gridded ion thruster technology, this power technology can be mission enabling for a wide range of missions ranging from ambitious near Earth NASA missions to those missions involving other customers as well such as DOD and commercial satellite interests. Indeed the HEFT clearly identified the need for high power electric. The appeal of the ion thrusters for such applications stems from their overall high efficiency, typically >70% and long life. In response to the need for a single, high powered engine to fill the gulf between the 7 kW NEXT system and a notional 25 kW engine, a Phase I activity to build a 25 kW, 50 cm ion thruster discharge chamber was completed with a laboratory model fabricated. The proposed Phase II effort aims to mature the laboratory model into a proto-engineering model ion thruster. The proposed effort involves the evolution of the discharge chamber to a high performance thruster by performance testing and characterization via simulated and full beam extraction testing. Through such testing the design will be optimized leading ultimately to the proposed design, build and preliminary checkout of a proto-engineering model thruster, thereby advancing the TRL level to 4-5 range. Deliverables include the thruster, a design package, and a performance data document.","startYear":2011,"startMonth":7,"endYear":2014,"endMonth":2,"statusDescription":"Completed","principalInvestigators":[{"contactId":78465,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Christopher","lastName":"Davis","fullName":"Christopher Davis","fullNameInverted":"Davis, Christopher","primaryEmail":"davis@edapplications.com","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"programDirectors":[{"contactId":206378,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Jason","lastName":"Kessler","fullName":"Jason L Kessler","fullNameInverted":"Kessler, Jason L","middleInitial":"L","primaryEmail":"jason.l.kessler@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"programExecutives":[{"contactId":215154,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Jennifer","lastName":"Gustetic","fullName":"Jennifer L Gustetic","fullNameInverted":"Gustetic, Jennifer L","middleInitial":"L","primaryEmail":"jennifer.l.gustetic@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"programManagers":[{"contactId":62051,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Carlos","lastName":"Torrez","fullName":"Carlos Torrez","fullNameInverted":"Torrez, Carlos","primaryEmail":"carlos.torrez@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"projectManagers":[{"contactId":3164728,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Michael","lastName":"Patterson","fullName":"Michael Patterson","fullNameInverted":"Patterson, Michael","primaryEmail":"Michael.J.Patterson@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false},{"contactId":461333,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Theresa","lastName":"Stanley","fullName":"Theresa M Stanley","fullNameInverted":"Stanley, Theresa M","middleInitial":"M","primaryEmail":"theresa.m.stanley@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"website":"","libraryItems":[],"transitions":[{"transitionId":66306,"projectId":10350,"partner":"Other","transitionDate":"2011-07-01","path":"Advanced From","relatedProjectId":10373,"relatedProject":{"acronym":"","projectId":10373,"title":"High Power High Thrust Ion Thruster (HPHTion): 50 CM Ion Thruster for Near-Earth Applications","startTrl":1,"currentTrl":4,"endTrl":4,"benefits":"High power ion thruster propulsion technology is also enabling for DOD customers as well as commercial satellite interests for orbital transfer applications. The appeal of the system to non-NASA customers has been heightened through the availability of high power solar arrays. The coupling of such arrays with high power, efficient gridded ion is indeed mission enabling. In this respect, there would be likely benefits for both government satellites as well as commercial satellite markets.
EDA is committed to developing spacecraft propulsion related systems such as the 50 cm ion thruster. EDA is uniquely qualified to advance this technology rapidly through initial prototype development and qualification due to its experience in flight hardware. The PIs of this proposed project have first-hand experience with commercial EP devices having assisted three major aerospace engineering firms with thruster (and associated electronics) qualification and one in the design of a new flight engine. EDA also a solid relationship with the spacecraft propulsion divisions at Aerojet and Busek, all of whom have developed flight-ready EP engines. The technology under development here has numerous applications in the area of electric propulsion, supporting those current and future NASA missions with high power requirements.","description":"Advances in high power, photovoltaic technology has enabled the possibility of reasonably sized, high specific power, high power, solar arrays. New thin film solar arrays have demonstrated specific powers of over 4000 W/kg (exceeding the current SOA of ~130 W/kg). At high specific powers, power levels ranging from 50 to several hundred kW are feasible for communication satellites. Coupled with gridded ion thruster technology, this power technology can be mission enabling for a wide range of missions ranging from ambitious near Earth NASA missions to those missions involving other customers as well such as DOD and commercial satellite interests. The appeal of the ion thrusters stems from their overall high efficiency, typically >70%. At present, the most advanced and mature gridded ion thruster technology is that embodied in the 7-kW NEXT ion thruster. The proposed Phase I effort seeks to design and fabricate a ion thruster discharge chamber with an equivalent beam area of a 50-cm-diameter cylindrical ion thruster with the capacity to fill the 7 to 25-kW void that currently exist for ion thrusters. The overall effort (Phases I and II) will advance the TRL level of the discharge chamber for the 50-cm thruster by understanding and optimizing the discharge chamber.","startYear":2010,"startMonth":1,"endYear":2011,"endMonth":1,"statusDescription":"Completed","website":"","program":{"acronym":"SBIR/STTR","active":true,"description":"
The NASA SBIR and STTR programs fund the research, development, and demonstration of innovative technologies that fulfill NASA needs as described in the annual Solicitations and have significant potential for successful commercialization. If you are a small business concern (SBC) with 500 or fewer employees or a non-profit RI such as a university or a research laboratory with ties to an SBC, then NASA encourages you to learn more about the SBIR and STTR programs as a potential source of seed funding for the development of your innovations.
The SBIR and STTR programs have 3 phases:
The SBIR and STTR Phase I contracts last for 6 months with a maximum funding of $125,000, and Phase II contracts last for 24 months with a maximum funding of $750,000 - $1.5 million.
Opportunity for Continued Technology Development Post-Phase II:
The NASA SBIR/STTR Program currently has in place two initiatives for supporting its small business partners past the basic Phase I and Phase II elements of the program that emphasize opportunities for commercialization. Specifically, the NASA SBIR/STTR Program has the Phase II Enhancement (Phase II-E) and Phase II eXpanded (Phase II-X) contract options.
Please review the links below to obtain more information on the SBIR/STTR programs.
Provides an overview of the SBIR and STTR programs as implemented by NASA
Provides access to the annual SBIR/STTR Solicitations containing detailed information on the program eligibility requirements, proposal instructions and research topics and subtopics
Schedule and links for the SBIR/STTR solicitations and selection announcements
Federal and non-Federal sources of assistance for small business
Search our complete archive of awarded project abstracts to learn about what NASA has funded
Still have questions? Visit the program FAQs
","programId":73,"responsibleMd":{"acronym":"STMD","canUserEdit":false,"city":"","external":false,"linkCount":0,"organizationId":4875,"organizationName":"Space Technology Mission Directorate","organizationType":"NASA_Mission_Directorate","naorganization":false,"organizationTypePretty":"NASA Mission Directorate"},"responsibleMdId":4875,"stockImageFileId":36648,"title":"Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Tech Transfer"},"lastUpdated":"2024-1-10","releaseStatusString":"Released","viewCount":406,"endDateString":"Jan 2011","startDateString":"Jan 2010"},"infoText":"Advanced from another project within the program","infoTextExtra":"Another project within the program (High Power High Thrust Ion Thruster (HPHTion): 50 CM Ion Thruster for Near-Earth Applications)","dateText":"July 2011"},{"transitionId":66305,"projectId":10350,"transitionDate":"2014-02-01","path":"Closed Out","closeoutDocuments":[{"title":"Final Summary Chart","file":{"fileExtension":"pdf","fileId":306252,"fileName":"STTR_2009_2_FSC_T3.01-9881","fileSize":1107697,"objectId":66305,"objectType":{"lkuCodeId":1841,"code":"TRANSITION_FILES","description":"Transition Files","lkuCodeTypeId":182,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"OBJECT_TYPE","description":"Object Type"}},"fileSizeString":"1.1 MB"},"transitionId":66305,"fileId":306252}],"infoText":"Closed out","infoTextExtra":"","dateText":"February 2014"}],"responsibleMd":{"acronym":"STMD","canUserEdit":false,"city":"","external":false,"linkCount":0,"organizationId":4875,"organizationName":"Space Technology Mission Directorate","organizationType":"NASA_Mission_Directorate","naorganization":false,"organizationTypePretty":"NASA Mission Directorate"},"program":{"acronym":"SBIR/STTR","active":true,"description":"The NASA SBIR and STTR programs fund the research, development, and demonstration of innovative technologies that fulfill NASA needs as described in the annual Solicitations and have significant potential for successful commercialization. If you are a small business concern (SBC) with 500 or fewer employees or a non-profit RI such as a university or a research laboratory with ties to an SBC, then NASA encourages you to learn more about the SBIR and STTR programs as a potential source of seed funding for the development of your innovations.
The SBIR and STTR programs have 3 phases:
The SBIR and STTR Phase I contracts last for 6 months with a maximum funding of $125,000, and Phase II contracts last for 24 months with a maximum funding of $750,000 - $1.5 million.
Opportunity for Continued Technology Development Post-Phase II:
The NASA SBIR/STTR Program currently has in place two initiatives for supporting its small business partners past the basic Phase I and Phase II elements of the program that emphasize opportunities for commercialization. Specifically, the NASA SBIR/STTR Program has the Phase II Enhancement (Phase II-E) and Phase II eXpanded (Phase II-X) contract options.
Please review the links below to obtain more information on the SBIR/STTR programs.
Provides an overview of the SBIR and STTR programs as implemented by NASA
Provides access to the annual SBIR/STTR Solicitations containing detailed information on the program eligibility requirements, proposal instructions and research topics and subtopics
Schedule and links for the SBIR/STTR solicitations and selection announcements
Federal and non-Federal sources of assistance for small business
Search our complete archive of awarded project abstracts to learn about what NASA has funded
Still have questions? Visit the program FAQs
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