NASA Glenn engineer Dr. Peter Peterson prepares a high-power Hall thruster for ground testing in a vacuum chamber.
NASA Glenn engineer Dr. Peter Peterson prepares a high-power Hall thruster for ground testing in a vacuum chamber that simulates the environment in space. Referred to as the Hall Effect Rocket with Magnetic Shielding (HERMeS), this device operates at 12.5 kW, which has three times greater power than existing systems. This high-power solar electric propulsion capability has been identified as a critical part of NASA’s future deep space exploration plans.
Image credit: NASA
Bridget Caswell, Alcyon Technical Services