Nuclear Electric Propulsion:

The high specific impulse of electric propulsion means going farther with less propellant mass. Advanced electric propulsion technologies can stretch this advantage farther through increased thruster lifetimes, alternative propellant use, and high power density thruster technology development. NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) capabilities include:

• Ion and Hall long-life and high power thruster development
• Magnetoplasmadynamic or other high power electric propulsion concept thruster technology development
• Thruster power processor technology development
• Integrated electric propulsion system technology maturation
• Electric propulsion mission and systems analysis
• Electric propulsion thruster and system testing in world class facilities

Current GRC Prometheus Advanced Systems & Technology electric propulsion projects include:

• High Power Hall Thruster Propulsion System Development
• Microwave Cathode Development for Electric Propulsion Thrusters
• High Temperature Magnets for Electric Propulsion Thrusters
• Very High Specific Impulse (Isp) Thruster with Anode Layer bismuth thruster, with JPL

For more information on electric propulsion research at NASA Glenn, click here.

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