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Technological progress in space propulsion and space power will disrupt the traditional paradigm of spacecraft design, acquisition, launch, and operations. How might solar electric propulsion fit in?
Read the paper
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Here inside the vacuum chamber, electric propulsion thrusters are placed to experience space-like conditions. Learn more about the new chamber with this video.
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Aerospace is at the cutting edge of electric propulsion research, and this lab is one of the world’s foremost facilities for the advanced study of electric propulsion thrusters.
About Electric Propulsion
Electric propulsion produces significantly less thrust than chemical propulsion but is much more efficient in terms of the amount of fuel used. It’s too weak to launch rockets through the atmosphere, but once in space, the lack of gravity allows electric propulsion thrusters’ true potential to shine. Historically, electric propulsion has mostly been used for station-keeping of satellites. But its highly efficient nature opens up possibilities for long-distance space exploration missions with the small but constant thrust building up over time, accelerating the spacecraft to a very high velocity.
About This Lab
Aerospace provides end-to-end testing of electric propulsion thrusters, from measuring thrust, exhaust velocity and specific impulse to more advanced work like plume characterization, which helps quantify the risk of damage to other parts of the spacecraft. The lab also offers non-invasive testing using laser and optical diagnostics.
We are equipped to test the latest large electric propulsion devices or smaller micro-thrusters that go on CubeSats, with tests spanning from just a few hours up to more than a year.
Browse through the space and check out our newly installed vacuum chamber, EP3, that will enable us to test the newer, high-powered thrusters needed for future space exploration, or visit “The Snake Pit” where we test the tiniest of thrusters.
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Aerospace is at the cutting edge of electric propulsion research, and this lab is one of the world’s foremost facilities for the advanced study of electric propulsion thrusters.
About Electric Propulsion
Electric propulsion produces significantly less thrust than chemical propulsion but is much more efficient in terms of the amount of fuel used. It’s too weak to launch rockets through the atmosphere, but once in space, the lack of gravity allows electric propulsion thrusters’ true potential to shine. Historically, electric propulsion has mostly been used for station-keeping of satellites. But its highly efficient nature opens up possibilities for long-distance space exploration missions with the small but constant thrust building up over time, accelerating the spacecraft to a very high velocity.
About This Lab
Aerospace provides end-to-end testing of electric propulsion thrusters, from measuring thrust, exhaust velocity and specific impulse to more advanced work like plume characterization, which helps quantify the risk of damage to other parts of the spacecraft. The lab also offers non-invasive testing using laser and optical diagnostics.
We are equipped to test the latest large electric propulsion devices or smaller micro-thrusters that go on CubeSats, with tests spanning from just a few hours up to more than a year.
Browse through the space and check out our newly installed vacuum chamber, EP3, that will enable us to test the newer, high-powered thrusters needed for future space exploration, or visit “The Snake Pit” where we test the tiniest of thrusters.
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Aerospace recently installed this new vacuum chamber that will enable us to test the newer, high-powered thrusters needed for future space exploration.
Read more
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Check out this time lapse video of the installation of the EP3 vacuum chamber!
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The EP3 chamber body was delivered in four segments over the course of a week and then bolted together.
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This chamber is 14 ft in diameter and 30 ft long.
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This lab has tested the majority of electric thruster designs in use today.
Image courtesy NASA.
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To simulate the vacuum of space, the EP3 chamber uses cryo-pumps that require liquid nitrogen. To support EP3, the lab installed a new 9000-liter liquid nitrogen tank.
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Aerospace’s micropropulsion facility, nicknamed “The Snake Pit,” has the unique capability to test cutting-edge microthruster technology to efficiently power small satellites.
Read more
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Aerospace is tackling the challenge of small satellite propulsion with a novel idea for a Hydrogen Peroxide Vapor Thruster (HyPer). This thruster was tested right here in the Snake Pit.
Read more
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MIT’s Space Propulsion Laboratory provided Aerospace with electrospray laboratory thrusters for testing in the Snake Pit. These are approximately the size of a lego block and would be used for small satellite propulsion. Aerospace tests both commercial and academic thrusters.
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Vacuum-compatible cameras allow scientists to monitor the health of the thrust stand while it’s under vacuum and running a test.
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It's not all about electric thrusters in this lab!
Water bears are fascinating little animals smaller than 1 mm long. They can survive extreme pressure, radiation and temperatures, and can even live in the vacuum of space. They go into a hibernation state in which their metabolism is suspended and they don’t need food or water for more than 30 years!
Our scientists are researching how water bears (also known by their scientific name: tardigrade) can survive in space by putting them in our vacuum chamber. Understanding how these remarkable creatures function can help us understand human factors and habitability for space exploration.
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The longest thruster test ever run in this chamber lasted for about a year (with interruptions).
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The plume from an electric thruster can interfere with the operation of the spacecraft's solar panels. This Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) Chamber is used for testing that interaction, to ensure no problems occur.
Electrostatic discharge can harm other spacecraft components, and can also be caused by energetic electrons from the space environment.
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The vacuum is maintained in the chamber by cryopumps that condense gases on their super-cold surfaces, similar to condensation of water on a cold glass on a hot day. The EP3 chamber combines 6 off-the-shelf pumps with an in-house designed pumping system that consists of 28 panels assembled into four rings.
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This chamber is known as EP2, and like its neighbor, it’s used to test thrusters in space-like conditions. For years, Aerospace has been at the forefront of electric propulsion research, playing an important historical role in the maturation of electric propulsion technology, and we continue to advance the state of the art.
Read more
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This vacuum chamber, EP2, is 8 ft in diameter and 30 ft long. It was the biggest chamber in the lab until EP3 was installed.
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Aerospace is at the cutting edge of electric propulsion research, and this lab is one of the world’s foremost facilities for the advanced study of electric propulsion thrusters.
About Electric Propulsion
Electric propulsion produces significantly less thrust than chemical propulsion but is much more efficient in terms of the amount of fuel used. It’s too weak to launch rockets through the atmosphere, but once in space, the lack of gravity allows electric propulsion thrusters’ true potential to shine. Historically, electric propulsion has mostly been used for station-keeping of satellites. But its highly efficient nature opens up possibilities for long-distance space exploration missions with the small but constant thrust building up over time, accelerating the spacecraft to a very high velocity.
About This Lab
Aerospace provides end-to-end testing of electric propulsion thrusters, from measuring thrust, exhaust velocity and specific impulse to more advanced work like plume characterization, which helps quantify the risk of damage to other parts of the spacecraft. The lab also offers non-invasive testing using laser and optical diagnostics.
We are equipped to test the latest large electric propulsion devices or smaller micro-thrusters that go on CubeSats, with tests spanning from just a few hours up to more than a year.
Browse through the space and check out our newly installed vacuum chamber, EP3, that will enable us to test the newer, high-powered thrusters needed for future space exploration, or visit “The Snake Pit” where we test the tiniest of thrusters.
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The Aerospace Corporation
www.aero.org
John Binkley
SYSTEMS DIRECTOR
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The Aerospace Corporation
www.aero.org
John Binkley
SYSTEMS DIRECTOR
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