NASA Successfully Activates Power System for Gateway Spacecraft
A major milestone has been achieved in the development of the Power and Propulsion Element (PPE) for NASA's Gateway lunar orbiting space station. For the first time, the system was successfully powered on, marking a significant step forward in the spacecraft's ability to generate power, transmit high-rate communications, control its attitude, and maneuver between orbits.
The PPE is capable of producing 60 kilowatts of power, which will be crucial for sustaining life support systems, scientific experiments, and communication equipment on the Gateway. Located at NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio, the element was built by industry partner Lanteris Space Systems with assistance from L3Harris and Busek.
The PPE's advanced electric propulsion system, which includes three 12-kilowatt thrusters and four 6-kilowatt BHT-6000 thrusters, is nearing completion. Meanwhile, the roll-out solar arrays designed for Gateway have been finished and are undergoing testing at Redwire's facility in Goleta, California.
This achievement paves the way for further testing and deployment of the PPE on the Gateway spacecraft, which is expected to play a vital role in NASA's Artemis lunar exploration program. As the agency continues to push forward with its ambitious plans, this milestone marks an important step towards realizing its vision for sustainable human presence on the Moon.
A major milestone has been achieved in the development of the Power and Propulsion Element (PPE) for NASA's Gateway lunar orbiting space station. For the first time, the system was successfully powered on, marking a significant step forward in the spacecraft's ability to generate power, transmit high-rate communications, control its attitude, and maneuver between orbits.
The PPE is capable of producing 60 kilowatts of power, which will be crucial for sustaining life support systems, scientific experiments, and communication equipment on the Gateway. Located at NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio, the element was built by industry partner Lanteris Space Systems with assistance from L3Harris and Busek.
The PPE's advanced electric propulsion system, which includes three 12-kilowatt thrusters and four 6-kilowatt BHT-6000 thrusters, is nearing completion. Meanwhile, the roll-out solar arrays designed for Gateway have been finished and are undergoing testing at Redwire's facility in Goleta, California.
This achievement paves the way for further testing and deployment of the PPE on the Gateway spacecraft, which is expected to play a vital role in NASA's Artemis lunar exploration program. As the agency continues to push forward with its ambitious plans, this milestone marks an important step towards realizing its vision for sustainable human presence on the Moon.