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NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

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New NASA Space Propulsion System Can Operate in Two Different Modes NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center is working on a new space propulsion system that combines the high efficiency of electric thrusters with the high performance of chemical thrusters. Marshall's Green Propulsion Dual Mode (GPDM) project has built and tested a small-scale combined electric and chemical propulsion system that relies on a single type of fuel, called ASCENT. Developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory, this fuel is made of an ionic liquid and is 50% more efficient, more environmentally friendly, and safer to handle than many conventional rocket fuels. Future spacecraft using this dual-mode propulsion technology could switch between high thrust and high efficiency at any given time during a mission, depending on its needs. Recent testing in NASA labs has proven this technology at small scales with low thrust levels. In late 2025, this technology will be tested in space on a small satellite mission developed by Marshall and its partners. Read more about this project, its NASA centers, and key partners on our TechPort database: https://lnkd.in/evEYGB_F

52 Comments

Jeffrey Akamine

ã‚ˆæ§‹æƒ³, é€£çµ¡, ç·´ç¿’ I

oh my god they created an ion drive. Electromagnetic engineers and plasma physicists have been waiting for it for decades. Glad no one was gonna claim solar sails was renewable technology.

8 Reactions

James B. Rathakrishna

SME Consultant (Freelance Option)

Electric Propulsion is a class of space propulsion which makes use of electrical power to accelerate a propellant by different possible electrical and/or magnetic means. The use of electrical power enhances the propulsive performances of the EP thrusters compared with conventional chemical thrusters. For human-powered aircraft and boats the most efficient propulsion system is the propeller. In the case of boats this may operate in either of the fluids, the water or the air. The difference between electric propulsion and chemical propulsion Electric propulsion typically uses its fuel 4 to 10 times more efficiently than chemical propulsion. This efficiency results in a significant reduction in the mass of fuel required to complete certain space maneuvers. Unlike chemical systems, electric propulsion requires very little mass to accelerate a spacecraft. The propellant is ejected up to twenty times faster than from a classical chemical thruster and therefore the overall system is many times more mass efficient. Chemical propulsion systems have a much higher thrust-to-weight ratio than electric propulsion. For maneuvers requiring high thrust, such as lunar orbit injections and LEO to GEO transfers, CP is preferred.

4 Reactions

Brett VanSteenwyk

Principal at Algorithms and Analytical Thinking

Does it have to be either-or? Something like an electrically augmented chemical thuster--it was fun to play with these things, though the electrode design was a bit non-intuitive.

5 Reactions

Nikhil Bhagat

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3 Reactions

Michael Rembis

Government Operations Consultant II for Fisheries Dependent Monitoring at Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute of FWC

Does anyone know what kind of spacecraft this is?

5 Reactions

David Adeosun

This flexibility could improve mission adaptability, as spacecraft can adjust propulsion based on immediate needs, potentially extending mission durations or conserving resources for critical phases. The GPDM system has already passed initial lab tests and is set for a key space demonstration in 2025, where it will be trialed on a small satellite. If successful, this technology could significantly enhance future mission capabilities, especially for deep-space exploration and complex orbital adjustments.