RE: https://mastodon.social/@europeanspaceflight/116306338879522880
2020, #ESA awarded #Airbus a €491 million contract to develop and deliver the Earth Return Orbiter. 2023, an independent #NASA review board report stated that the Mars Sample Return mission’s budget and schedule expectations were “unrealistic”. The #ElectricPropulsion system could potentially be reused.
#NASA will launch the #SpaceReactor1 Freedom, the first nuclear ☢️ powered #interplanetary spacecraft, to #Mars 🔴 before the end of 📆 2028. Nuclear #ElectricPropulsion enables high power missions beyond #Jupiter 🪐 where #solar arrays are not effective https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-unveils-initiatives-to-achieve-americas-national-space-policy/
Chemical vs. Electric Engines for Deep Space Travel
Learn why electric engines are chosen for deep space travel over chemical engines. They use less fuel for long journeys to planets like Mars and beyond.
#DeepSpaceTravel, #ElectricPropulsion, #ChemicalEngines, #SpaceExploration, #RocketScience
https://newsletter.tf/why-electric-engines-are-better-for-deep-space-travel/
Electric engines use much less fuel than chemical engines for long space trips. This means spacecraft can travel further without needing as much heavy fuel.
#DeepSpaceTravel, #ElectricPropulsion, #ChemicalEngines, #SpaceExploration, #RocketScience
https://newsletter.tf/why-electric-engines-are-better-for-deep-space-travel/
#GeneralGalactic’s water 💧 propulsion system could provide 5-10 times the Delta-V of traditional systems. For #chemical propulsion, it will use electrolysis to split water, then burn the hydrogen with oxygen as the oxidizer. For #electrical propulsion, it will split water and then apply sufficient electrical energy 🔋 to convert the oxygen into plasma. It will then use a #magnetic field to guide the plasma out of a thruster https://interestingengineering.com/space/satellite-using-water-powered-propulsion-system
Ce 6 février 2026, Safran a inauguré à Vernon un nouveau bâtiment industriel dédié à l’assemblage de moteurs plasmiques pour satellites. Une étape majeure dans le développement industriel du secteur spatial européen pour accompagner la montée en puissance du New Space.
Here’s a bunch of neat pictures of hardware for NASA Gateway, the lunar space station that is being built.
I worked on the electric thruster project for a few years and am now working on the Power and Propulsion Element (which uses three of those thrusters). #NASA #ElectricPropulsion
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasa2explore/albums/72177720317836567/
Discover the cutting-edge hardware and rigorous testing processes behind the development of the Gateway lunar space station in this album dedicated to Gateway hardware and testing. Dive into the latest images and updates showcasing the collaborative efforts to create humanity’s first space station in lunar orbit. Stay informed and inspired by the advancements that are paving the way for the future of deep space exploration. nasa.gov/gateway
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