Advanced Electric Propulsion System

rdf:langString Advanced Electric Propulsion System

rdf:langString Advanced Electric Propulsion System (AEPS) is a solar electric propulsion system for spacecraft that is being designed, developed and tested by NASA and Aerojet Rocketdyne for large-scale science missions and cargo transportation. The first application of the AEPS is to propel the Power and Propulsion Element (PPE) of Gateway, to be launched in 2024. The PPE module is built by MAXAR space solutions in Palo Alto, California. Two identical AEPS engines would consume 25 kW being generated by the roll-out solar array (ROSA) assembly, which can produce over 60 kW of power. The Power and Propulsion Element (PPE) for the Lunar Gateway will have a mass of 8-9 metric tons and will be capable of generating 50 kW of solar electric power for its Hall thrusters for maneuverability, which can be supported by chemical monopropellant thrusters for high-thrust attitude control maneuvers.