Ionic thrusters designed to carry astronauts or cargo to Mars passed initial testing, Aerojet Rocketdyne announced Thursday.
Based in Rancho Cordova, the rocket-engine maker is designing a new high-power electric system for NASA’s planned trips to Mars.
Aerojet has built and delivered electric space propulsion since at least the 1970s for use on satellites and space probes.
This new high-power system is designed for delivering cargo faster over long distances. Aerojet often is a subcontractor with other defense contractors or aerospace companies. In this project, Aerojet is the prime contractor for NASA.
A prototype of the electric propulsion spacecraft passed tests in a simulated environment, Aerojet announced in a news release.
“For high-power solar electric power modules, such as those that NASA envisions for transporting cargo to Mars, it will be critical to efficiently process and deliver the power from the advanced solar arrays to the high power electric propulsion thrusters on spacecraft,” said Julie Van Kleeck, vice president of advanced space and launch programs at Aerojet Rocketdyne. “This is a critical step toward achieving that goal as we prepare to journey further into space.”
Aerojet tested the system at its Los Angeles site, where much of the International Space Station’s power-system hardware was developed.
Earlier this month, the company announced it had successfully tested another ionic drive space motor on a military space plane. The company has 64 orders for that product, which will mostly be used to move and position satellites.
Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings Inc. (NYSE: AJRD) is the region’s largest publicly traded company. Founded in the Cold War, this year the company started a five-year cost-cutting plan to get more efficient.
Next week, the company will be celebrating when the New Horizons space probe flies past the dwarf planet Pluto. Aerojet built the in-flight propulsion for that mission.