Advanced Electric Propulsion System

<p>Advanced Electric Propulsion System (AEPS) is a <a href="/facts/Solar_electric_propulsion/UHLjgpPq">solar electric propulsion</a> system for spacecraft that is being designed, developed and tested by <a href="/facts/NASA/TIMCV0yV">NASA</a> and <a href="/facts/Aerojet_Rocketdyne/hN0hGfHI">Aerojet Rocketdyne</a> for large-scale science missions and cargo transportation. The first application of the AEPS is to propel the <a href="/facts/Power_and_Propulsion_Element/b7HjJvWw">Power and Propulsion Element</a> (PPE) of the <a href="/facts/Lunar_Gateway/XExxjawm">Lunar Gateway</a>, to be launched no earlier than 2027. The PPE module is built by <a href="/facts/Maxar_Technologies/ta0E2dJD">Maxar Space Systems</a> 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.
</p><p>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 <a href="/facts/Solar_electric_power/YBSajyN4">solar electric power</a> for its <a href="/facts/Hall-effect_thruster/XmNYxLc4">Hall-effect thrusters</a> for maneuverability, which can be supported by chemical monopropellant thrusters for high-thrust attitude control maneuvers.
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Advanced Electric Propulsion System open-in-new

Advanced Electric Propulsion System