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Solar electric propulsion uses solar arrays to power ion thrusters that accelerate xenon gas, producing highly efficient thrust. This reduces the mass of propulsion systems and propellants by up to 90% compared to chemical rockets. NASA is developing solar electric propulsion technologies to enable affordable deep space missions for science and human exploration. A demonstration mission will redirect an asteroid into orbit around the moon to test these technologies.

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53 views2 pages

Nasasolarpropulsion PDF

Solar electric propulsion uses solar arrays to power ion thrusters that accelerate xenon gas, producing highly efficient thrust. This reduces the mass of propulsion systems and propellants by up to 90% compared to chemical rockets. NASA is developing solar electric propulsion technologies to enable affordable deep space missions for science and human exploration. A demonstration mission will redirect an asteroid into orbit around the moon to test these technologies.

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howan
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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National Aeronautics and

Space Administration

Solar Electric Propulsion


Developing solar electric power and propulsion systems
for efficient travel beyond low Earth orbit

NASA facts
Expanding Our Reach Solar Arrays
Once they are placed into orbit and separated The Deployable Space Systems (DSS) Roll Out Solar Arrays
from their launch vehicle, spacecraft must rely (ROSA) and Orbital ATK MegaFlex solar arrays were
on their onboard propulsion systems for any developed for SEP missions like those NASA is planning.
further maneuvering. For certain deep-space Large-scale arrays can be stowed at launch and then unfurl
missions, the onboard propulsion systems and to capture solar energy that is converted into electricity. A
their required propellant may make up more pair of these large-scale arrays can provide approximately
than half of the overall spacecraft mass. By 50 kilowatts of electrical power.
utilizing solar electric propulsion (SEP), the
mass of the propulsion system and propellant
can be reduced by up to 90 percent by
augmenting the propellant with energy from
the Sun. As a result, SEP is a cost-efficient
method to transport cargo to the deepest
reaches of space.

Lighter and Longer Mission Solution


NASA’s Solar Electric Propulsion Technology
Demonstration Mission will demonstrate a
high-power SEP system for the Agency. It will
• reduce costs for interplanetary missions—
including robotic and cargo missions to Mars;
• enable future long-duration, deep-space
robotic exploration;
• lead to very high power systems for human
interplanetary exploration; and
• demonstrate technology applicable to other
government and commercial uses.

Technological Advantages
Mission needs for high-power SEP are driving
the development of advanced technologies
including large, light-weight solar arrays,
magnetically shielded ion propulsion thrusters,
Solar array technologies being advanced for SEP include: (top) the
and high-voltage power processing units. ROSA; (bottom) MegaFlex solar array. Solar arrays will convert
Utilizing electric power from solar arrays to energy from the Sun into electricity used to power the thrusters.
ionize and accelerate xenon gas, highly
efficient thrust is produced using one-tenth Hall Thrusters
of the propellant required by conventional The high-power SEP systems under development use
chemical propulsion systems; this greatly electrostatic Hall thrusters instead of chemical rocket
reduces spacecraft size and mission costs. engines. A Hall thruster uses electricity and xenon gas to
create a plasma comprising of electrons and ions. The thruster electric
field accelerates xenon ions to extremely high velocities and expels them
to produce the thrust that propels a SEP spacecraft.

Power Processing Units


High-voltage power processing units condition electricity generated by
solar arrays into voltages and currents needed to operate Hall thrusters.

Combining SEP technologies enables high-fuel-efficiency space flight


missions beyond low Earth orbit at much lower mass and cost than is
achievable with conventional chemical propulsion systems.

Capability Demonstration Mission The Hall Effect Rocket with Magnetic Shielding (HERMeS)
The Asteroid Redirect Robotic Mission (ARRM) is a capability demon- thruster. Here the HERMeS Technology Development
Unit is shown during testing in Vacuum Facility-5 at Glenn
stration mission of high-power SEP supported by NASA’s Human Research Center.
Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate, Space Technology
Mission Directorate, and Science Mission Directorate. ARRM will use a
robotic spacecraft equipped with a high-power SEP system to visit a large near-Earth
asteroid, collect a multiton boulder from its surface, and conduct an asteroid deflection
demonstration. The spacecraft will then redirect the multiton boulder into a stable orbit
around the moon, where astronauts will explore it and return with samples in the mid-2020s.

The Future: Proving Ground Missions on NASA’s Journey to Mars


NASA is developing and demonstrating SEP technologies needed to affordably enable
human missions to Mars. A high-power solar electric power and propulsion spacecraft (bus)
can be used to transport cargo, payloads, and other spacecraft elements required for crewed
exploration beyond low Earth orbit. The SEP technology enables a range of other commercial
and government missions.

Glenn Leads SEP for the Agency


NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio, is the lead NASA center for solar electric
propulsion. Glenn performs in-house SEP technology development activities and oversees
SEP contracted efforts (like the DSS and Orbital ATK solar array developments) as well as
teamed efforts supported by contractors at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. NASA Glenn
also recently awarded a contract to Aerojet Rocketdyne for development of a high-power Hall
thruster, power processing unit, and xenon flow controller to be used on SEP missions.

Key Facts
• Solar electric propulsion allows deep-space missions to carry more cargo and use smaller
launch vehicles while reducing mission costs.
• The Solar Electric Propulsion project has developed solar arrays that are lighter, stronger,
more compact, and less expensive than those currently available.
• Solar electric propulsion provides such high fuel economy that it reduces the amount of
propellant required onboard vehicles for deep-space missions by as much as 90 percent.
A NASA-developed spacecraft
• Solar electric propulsion will enable affordable human-crewed missions beyond low Earth orbit. concept that could perform the
ARRM.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration


MORE INFORMATION
John H. Glenn Research Center
Cleveland, OH 44135 For more Information visit www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/tdm/sep/index.html.
www.nasa.gov/glenn

www.nasa.gov

FS-2016-07-049-GRC PS-01987–0816

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