NASA and Boeing developing solar electric propulsion technologies

As part of a four-month NASA contract to create a mission concept study for solar electric propulsion technologies, Boeing will be analyzing how to combine high-power solar arrays with advanced electric thrusters. The goal of such a fusion is to power spacecrafts and payloads to high Earth orbits and deep space areas. “Boeing pioneered the use of electric propulsion, and has developed an approach to integrate compact, lightweight, and highly efficient solar arrays with next-generation electric thrusters in future spacecraft,” said Steve Johnston, director of Boeing Phantom Works’ Advanced Space Exploration division. Boeing is only one of five contractors working on developing a mission concept to examine the infrastructure and solar electric technology required to sustain human presence in space. Boeing is also seeking to increase on-orbit manueverability for satellites and enhance robotic science missions.