12 kW Hall thruster developed with NASA Glenn and JPL; three units will provide primary propulsion for the lunar Gateway Power and Propulsion Element.
AEPS Advanced Electric Propulsion System
12 kW Hall thruster developed with NASA Glenn and JPL; three units will provide primary propulsion for the lunar Gateway Power and Propulsion Element.
Description
Developed with NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) and Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), L3Harris' Advanced Electric Propulsion System (AEPS) thruster completed development testing in 2021 and began qualification testing at NASA Glenn in 2023. AEPS operates at 12 kW, more than twice the power level of electric thrusters flying on satellites today.
Three AEPS thrusters will serve as the primary source of propulsion on the Power and Propulsion Element (PPE) for NASA's international lunar Gateway to enable orbit transfer and in-space maneuvering.
Solar Electric Propulsion systems, energized by the electric power from on-board solar arrays, use significantly less propellant than comparable conventional chemical propulsion systems. In addition to satellite operations, SEP systems are key to enabling future crewed deep space missions, playing a critical role in the efficient transfer of cargo and payloads to deep space ahead of crew arrival.
Specifications
| Power level | 12 kW |
|---|---|
| Type | Hall effect electric propulsion thruster |
| Development partners | NASA Glenn Research Center, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory |
| Status | Development testing completed 2021; qualification testing started at NASA Glenn 2023 |
| Application | Three thrusters as primary propulsion for the lunar Gateway Power and Propulsion Element |
