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The NASA Evolutionary Xenon Thruster (NEXT) program, led by the NASA Glenn Research Center, is developing the next generation of ion propulsion systems for solar system exploration. The NASA Glenn Research Center led team includes Aerojet, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and L3 Electron Technologies, Inc. Aerojet is responsible for the development of the Prototype Model Electric Propulsion Thruster (PM EPT), the Engineering Model Propellant Management System (EM PMS), and the Digital Control Interface Unit (DCIU) simulator. The thruster has a 36cm beam diameter, providing nearly twice the effective area of the NASA Solar electric propulsion Technology Application Readiness (NSTAR) thruster. In Phase I, the NEXT team’s efforts culminated in a highly successful single string integrated test firing of an Engineering Model thruster combined with a breadboard PMS and Power Processing Unit (PPU). This paper describes the development status of Aerojet’s Phase II program which includes the design and assembly of two PM thrusters and the design, assembly and test of a three string EM PMS and DCIU simulator. Following delivery to NASA GRC, this hardware will support performance, environmental and system integration testing. |
