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High Power High Thrust Ion Thruster (HPHTion): 50 CM Ion Thruster for…

Award Information

Agency:
National Aeronautics and Space Administration 		Branch:
N/A 		Award ID:
95637 		Program Year/Program:
2010 / STTR
Agency Tracking Number:
090119 		Solicitation Year:
N/A 		Solicitation Topic Code:
T3 		Solicitation Number:
N/A
Small Business Information
ElectroDynamic Applications, Inc.
P.O. Box 131460 Ann Arbor, MI 48113-
View profile »
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: Yes
HUBZone-Owned: No
 
Phase 1
Fiscal Year: 2010
Title: High Power High Thrust Ion Thruster (HPHTion): 50 CM Ion Thruster for Near-Earth Applications
Agency: NASA
Contract: NNX10CF59P
Award Amount: $99,974.00
 

Abstract:

Advances in high power, photovoltaic technology has enabled the possibility of reasonably sized, high specific power, high power, solar arrays. New thin film solar arrays have demonstrated specific powers of over 4000 W/kg (exceeding the current SOA of ~130 W/kg). At high specific powers, power levels ranging from 50 to several hundred kW are feasible for communication satellites. Coupled with gridded ion thruster technology, this power technology can be mission enabling for a wide range of missions ranging from ambitious near Earth NASA missions to those missions involving other customers as well such as DOD and commercial satellite interests. The appeal of the ion thrusters stems from their overall high efficiency, typically >70%. At present, the most advanced and mature gridded ion thruster technology is that embodied in the 7-kW NEXT ion thruster. The proposed Phase I effort seeks to design and fabricate a ion thruster discharge chamber with an equivalent beam area of a 50-cm-diameter cylindrical ion thruster with the capacity to fill the 7 to 25-kW void that currently exist for ion thrusters. The overall effort (Phases I and II) will advance the TRL level of the discharge chamber for the 50-cm thruster by understanding and optimizing the discharge chamber.

Principal Investigator:

Peter Y. Peterson
Principal Investigator
7347861434
info@edapplications.com

Business Contact:

Jonathan L. Zagel
Business Manager
7347861434
Small Business Information at Submission:

ElectroDynamic Applications, Inc.
P.O. Box 131460 Ann Arbor, MI 48113

EIN/Tax ID: 383479349
DUNS: N/A
Number of Employees:
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No
Research Institution Information:
University of Michigan
3003 South State Street, Room 1058
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Contact Phone: 7347641976