Northrop Grumman [NOC] recently announced that it was awarded a contract to study high-power solar electric propulsion flight system technology for NASA space and human exploration missions.
Sandia National Laboratories and the University of Michigan’s Department of Aerospace Engineering are teaming up with the company to create a technology road map for near-term NASA space missions.
“In collaboration with our partners, we are working on alternatives to the typical solar array approach,” said Jim Munger, solar electric propulsion program manager, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems. “Our concept will be scalable to 300 kilowatts and beyond and have the potential for reducing the cost and complexity of high-power requirements.”
Northrop Grumman added in a press release that the project’s goal is to develop a high-power solar electric propulsion system for a “space tugboat” that can ferry satellites, saving fuel and booster costs.
NASA Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, Ohio, will manage the project. In addition to other numerous technology development activities, the Center designs game-changing technology for spaceflight that enables further exploration of the universe.