Technology Demonstration Missions
Solar Electric Propulsion (SEP)
Project Introduction
The Solar Electric Propulsion Project shall develop and qualify an advanced 12.5 kW EP thruster applicable to human/robotic exploration and commercial spaceflight missions including the Power and Propulsion Element (PPE). The technology development objective of the SEP subproject, Plasma Diagnostics Package (PDP), is to develop, qualify, and deliver a flight PDP provided as GFE to PPE that can collect on-orbit PPE Ion Propulsion System (IPS) plasma data in the space environment.
More »Anticipated Benefits
The technology will enable the use of high power electric propulsion systems for long term missions such as cargo transports to Mars.
More »Primary U.S. Work Locations and Key Partners
| Organizations Performing Work | Role | Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
Glenn Research Center
(GRC)
|
Lead Organization | NASA Center | Cleveland, Ohio |
| Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings, Inc. | Supporting Organization | Industry | El Segundo, California |
| Analytical Mechanics Associates, Inc. | Supporting Organization | Industry | Hampton, Virginia |
| Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corporation | Supporting Organization | Industry | Boulder, Colorado |
| Deployable Space Systems, Inc (DSS) | Supporting Organization | Industry | Goleta, California |
| ExoTerra Resource, LLC | Supporting Organization | Industry | Littleton, Colorado |
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
(JPL)
|
Supporting Organization | NASA Center | Pasadena, California |
|
Langley Research Center
(LaRC)
|
Supporting Organization | NASA Center | Hampton, Virginia |
| Lockheed Martin Inc. | Supporting Organization | Industry | Palo Alto, California |
|
Marshall Space Flight Center
(MSFC)
|
Supporting Organization | NASA Center | Huntsville, Alabama |
| Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation | Supporting Organization | Industry | Falls Church, Virginia |
| Ohio Aerospace Institute (OAI) | Supporting Organization | Academia | Cleveland, Ohio |
| Orbital ATK Space Systems Group | Supporting Organization | Industry | Dulles, Virginia |
| Sierra Lobo Inc. | Supporting Organization |
Industry
Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB)
|
|
| Space Systems/Loral, LLC (SSL) | Supporting Organization | Industry | San Jose, California |
| The Boeing Company (Boeing) | Supporting Organization | Industry | Chicago, Illinois |
Primary U.S. Work Locations
-
Alabama
-
California
-
Colorado
-
Maryland
-
Ohio
-
Virginia
-
Washington
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Organizational Responsibility
Responsible Mission Directorate:
- Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD)
Lead Center / Facility:
- Glenn Research Center (GRC)
Responsible Program:
- Technology Demonstration Missions
Project Management
Program Director:
Program Manager:
Principal Investigator:
Project Duration
Start: Oct 2014
End: Sep 2023
Technology Maturity (TRL)
| Start: | 4 |
| Current: | 4 |
| Estimated End: | 9 |
Applied Research
Development
Demo & Test
Technology Areas
Primary:
- TX01 Propulsion Systems
- TX01.2 Electric Space Propulsion
- TX01.2.2 Electrostatic
Target Destinations
The Moon, Mars, Others Inside the Solar System
Supported Mission Type
Planned Mission (Pull)
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