Astronomy:Power and Propulsion Element

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Power and Propulsion Element
Artist's impression of the PPE, attached to HALO, firing its engines in lunar orbit.
NamesPPE
Asteroid Redirect Vehicle
Mission typeLunar Gateway module
OperatorNorthrop Grumman / NASA
Mission duration15 years (planned)
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftPPE
ManufacturerLanteris Space Systems
Launch mass5,000 kg (11,000 lb) [1]
Power60 kW
Start of mission
Launch date2027 (planned)[2]
RocketFalcon Heavy
Launch siteKennedy Space Center, LC-39A
ContractorSpaceX
← CAPSTONE
HALO →
 

The Power and Propulsion Element (PPE), previously known as the Asteroid Redirect Vehicle propulsion system, is a planned element of the Lunar Gateway. PPE is being developed by Lanteris Space Systems for NASA as part of the Artemis program. PPE will use Ion thrusters for solar electric propulsion supplemented by separate, higher-thrust bipropellant chemical propulsion.[3]

The PPE development effort started at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory as a part of the Asteroid Redirect Mission (ARM), but is now managed by the NASA John H. Glenn Research Center. When ARM was cancelled, the solar electric propulsion was repurposed as the PPE for the Gateway.[4][5] The PPE is designed to be able to transfer the reusable Gateway to lunar orbit.[6] It will also serve as the communications center of the Gateway.[7] The PPE is intended to have a launch mass of 5,000 kg (11,000 lb) with propellant accounting for half that mass [1] and the capability to generate 50 kW [8] of solar electric power using Roll Out Solar Arrays for its Hall-effect thrusters, which can be supplemented by chemical propulsion.[9] NASA currently plans to integrate PPE with the HALO module and launch them together on a Falcon Heavy, no earlier than 2027.[2][10]

Development

Asteroid Redirect Vehicle bus

Main article: Astronomy:Asteroid Redirect Mission

The Asteroid Redirect Vehicle was a robotic, high performance solar electric spacecraft for the Asteroid Redirect Mission (ARM). The mission was to send the spacecraft to a near-Earth asteroid and capture a multi-ton boulder from the surface with a grappling device. It would then transport the asteroid into orbit around the Moon where crewed missions to study it could be conducted more easily.[5][11] The mission was cancelled in early 2017 and the spacecraft's propulsion segment became the Power and Propulsion Element (PPE) for the Deep Space Gateway, now known as the Gateway.[4]

Reusable Space Tug missions

During the Asteroid Redirect Mission, space tug missions were proposed to separate Mars logistics that can spend a longer time in space than the crew into a separate mission, which could have reduced the costs by as much as 60% (if using advanced solar electric propulsion (ion engines) [12]). They would also reduce the overall mission risk by enabling check-out of critical systems at Mars before the crew departs Earth. This way if something goes wrong in those logistics, the crew is not in danger and the hardware can simply be fixed or relaunched.[13][14][15][16][17][18]

Not only would the solar electric propulsion (SEP) technologies and designs be applied to future missions, but the ARM spacecraft would be left in a stable orbit for reuse.[13][15][14] The project had baselined any of multiple refueling capabilities. The asteroid-specific payload was at one end of the spacecraft bus, either for possible removal and replacement via future servicing, or as a separable, reusable spacecraft, leaving a qualified space tug in cislunar space. This made adaption for Gateway easy, as the propulsion system was already designed to be multi-mission reusable.[19][20][21][22][23] When the ARM was cancelled however, development on the bus and any reusable tug ideas died, temporarily.[4]

Power and Propulsion Element

A diagram of the Gateway identifying the Power and Propulsion Element, along with the other modules planned.

In 2017, a year after the Artemis program came into existence, the ARM space tug/propulsion bus was repurposed as the main propulsion system for the Gateway space station. It officially became known as the Power and Propulsion Element or PPE.[4] The PPE will be a smaller version of the Asteroid Redirect bus.[4][24] In 2018, the Gateway was split off from Artemis as a separate program to allow a Moon landing by 2024 without having to wait for the Gateway to be completed.[25][26]

Commercial company studies

On 1 November 2017, NASA commissioned 5 studies lasting four months into affordable ways to develop the Power and Propulsion Element (PPE), hopefully leveraging private companies' plans. These studies had a combined budget of US$2.4 million. The companies performing the PPE studies were Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Orbital ATK, Sierra Nevada and Space Systems/Loral.[27][8] These awards are in addition to the ongoing set of NextSTEP-2 awards made in 2016 to study development and make ground prototypes of habitat modules that could be used on the Gateway as well as other commercial applications,[28] so the Gateway is likely to incorporate components developed under NextSTEP as well.[8][29]

Contract awarded

In May 2019, Lanteris Space Systems (as Maxar Technologies) was contracted by NASA to manufacture this module, which will also supply the station with electrical power and is based on Lanteris's Lanteris 1300 series satellite bus.[30] The PPE will use Redwire's roll-out solar arrays for power generation, Busek 6 kW Hall-effect thrusters and NASA Advanced Electric Propulsion System (AEPS) Hall-effect thrusters.[31][32][33] Maxar was awarded a firm-fixed price contract of US$375 million to build the PPE. Maxar's SSL business unit, previously known as Space Systems/Loral, will lead the project. Maxar stated they will receive help from Blue Origin and Draper Laboratory on the project, with Blue Origin assisting in human-rating and safety aspect while Draper will work with trajectory and navigation development.[7] NASA is supplying the PPE with a S-band communications system to provide a radio link with nearby vehicles and a passive docking adapter to receive the Gateway's future Utilization Module.[7] Maxar stated they are experienced dealing with high power components from making satellites. They did mention that their satellites are around 20 to 30 kilowatts, while the PPE will be about 60 kilowatts, but they say much of the technology they have already developed will still be applicable.[7] After a one-year demonstration period, NASA would then "exercise a contract option to take over control of the spacecraft".[26] Its expected service time is about 15 years.[25]

Integration with HALO

As originally planned, PPE would implement the passive mode International Docking System Standard (IDSS) docking port.[34] This meant that any spacecraft implememting active IDSS could theoretically dock to the PPE, such as Orion, Dragon 2, Dream Chaser, and Boeing Starliner. Maxar completed a system requirements review of this design in 2019.[35]

In 2020 NASA introduced new requirements, including integration of PPE and HALO before launch.[35] PPE thus does not need to dock with HALO in space, and its docking port was eliminated. Thus it will no longer be able to undock from HALO.[36] In February 2021 NASA contracted with SpaceX for launch of the integrated elements by a Falcon Heavy launch vehicle.[37]

In mid 2024, the HALO module reached significant completion and entered into the stress test phase in Thales Alenia's facilities. Upon successful completion of the stress tests, it is planned to be shipped to the US Northrop Grumman facilities to undergo final launch preparation and integration with the Power and Propulsion Element.[38]

PPE construction

The central component of the PPE module.

In 2025, the solar array which provides power to the module successfully passed testing.[39]

See also

  • Zarya (Functional Cargo Block; FGB/ФГБ), the International Space Station power, propulsion, control, and storage, module
  • Artemis Program

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Boyle, Alan (23 May 2019). "NASA says Maxar will build the first big piece for Gateway station in lunar orbit". GeekWire. https://www.geekwire.com/2019/nasa-says-maxar-will-build-first-big-piece-gateway-space-outpost-lunar-orbit/. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Artemis Programs: NASA Should Document and Communicate Plans to Address Gateway's Mass Risk". GAO. 31 July 2024. https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-24-106878. 
  3. ↑ Hughes, Andrew Francis; Pazhayattinkal, Kiran; Ranade, Isheeta; Pandit, Abhijit; Harper, William; Millington-Cotes, Alex; Elimelech, Avichai; Balika, Lahib et al. (20 May 2024). "Development Testing and Analysis of the Integrated Gateway-ESPRIT Bipropellant Refuelling System". https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20240004586. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 "NASA closing out Asteroid Redirect Mission". SpaceNews. 2017-06-14. https://spacenews.com/nasa-closing-out-asteroid-redirect-mission/. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Asteroid Redirect Robotic Mission". NASA. https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/asteroid-redirect-robotic-mission-arrm/.  Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  6. ↑ "Deep Space Gateway and Transport: Concepts for Mars, Moon Exploration Unveiled". Science News. 4 April 2017. http://www.sci-news.com/space/deep-space-gateway-transport-mars-moon-exploration-04756.html. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Clark, Stephen. "NASA chooses Maxar to build keystone module for lunar Gateway station". Spaceflight Now. https://spaceflightnow.com/2019/05/24/nasa-chooses-maxar-to-build-keystone-module-for-lunar-gateway-station/. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Foust, Jeff (3 November 2017). "NASA issues study contracts for Deep Space Gateway element". SpaceNews. https://spacenews.com/nasa-issues-study-contracts-for-deep-space-gateway-element/. 
  9. ↑ Chris Gebhardt (6 April 2017). "NASA finally sets goals, missions for SLS – eyes multi-step plan to Mars". NASASpaceFlight.com. https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/04/nasa-goals-missions-sls-eyes-multi-step-mars. 
  10. ↑ Dunbar, Brian (2023-12-18). "Gateway". https://www.nasa.gov/mission/gateway. 
  11. ↑ Greicius, Tony (2016-09-20). "JPL Seeks Robotic Spacecraft Development for Asteroid Redirect Mission". NASA. http://www.nasa.gov/feature/jpl/jpl-seeks-robotic-spacecraft-development-for-asteroid-redirect-mission.  Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  12. ↑ Tate, Karl (2013-04-10). "How to Catch an Asteroid: NASA Mission Explained (Infographic)". Space.com. http://www.space.com/20610-nasa-asteroid-capture-mission-infographic.html. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Cassady, J.; Maliga, K.; Overton, S.; Martin, T.; Sanders, S.; Joyner, C.; Kokam, T.; Tantardini, M. (2015). "Next Steps in the Evolvable Path to Mars". Proceedings of the IAC. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Craig, D. (10 June 2015). Evolvable Mars Campaign. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Troutman, P. (July 30, 2014). The Evolvable Mars Campaign: the Moons of Mars as a Destination. 
  16. ↑ Howell, E. (May 8, 2015). "Human Mars Plan: Phobos by 2033, Martian Surface by 2039?". Space.com. http://www.space.com/29349-manned-mars-missions-phobos-moon.html. 
  17. ↑ McElratht, T.; Elliott, J. (Jan 2014). "There and Back again: Using planet-based SEP tugs to repeatably aid interplanetary payloads". Advances in the Astronautical Sciences (152): 2279–2298. 
  18. ↑ Price, Humphrey W.; Woolley, Ryan; Strange, Nathan J.; Baker, John D. (2014). "Human Missions to Mars Orbit, Phobos, and Mars Surface Using 100-kWe-Class Solar Electric Propulsion". AIAA SPACE 2014 Conference and Exposition. doi:10.2514/6.2014-4436. ISBN 978-1-62410-257-8. 
  19. ↑ Manzanek, D. (May 20, 2016). The Asteroid Redirect Mission. USNO Scientific Colloquium. 
  20. ↑ Gates, M.; Manzanek, D. (June 28, 2016). Asteroid Redirect Mission (ARM). 15th Meeting of the NASA Small Bodies Assessment Group. 
  21. ↑ Manzanek, D.; Reeves, D.; Hopkins, J.; Wade, D.; Tantardini M.; Shen, H. (April 13, 2015). "Enhanced Gravity Tractor Technique for Planetary Defense". IAA-PDC. 
  22. ↑ NASA RFI: Spacecraft Bus Concepts to Support the ARM and In-Space Robotic Servicing- Section "Separable Spacecraft Architecture ARRM Concept". 
  23. ↑ "Will April 2020 be the last month on this Earth? NASA told the whole truth". Big 11 News. http://big11news.com/2020/03/11/nasa-bbc-news/. 
  24. ↑ Foust, Jeff (30 March 2018). "NASA considers acquiring more than one gateway propulsion module". SpaceNews. https://spacenews.com/nasa-considers-acquiring-more-than-one-gateway-propulsion-module/. 
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Crusan, Jason (7 December 2018). "Gateway Update: NASA ADVISORY COUNCIL Human Exploration and Operations Committee". https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/20181207-crusan-gateway-reduced-v4tagged.pdf. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 NASA updates Lunar Gateway plans , Philip Sloss, NASASpaceFlight.com, 11 September 2018
  27. ↑ Jimi Russell (November 2017). "NASA Selects Studies for Gateway Power and Propulsion Element". NASA. https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-selects-studies-for-gateway-power-and-propulsion-element.  Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  28. ↑ Robyn Gatens, Jason Crusan. "Cislunar Habitation and Environmental Control and Life Support System". NASA. https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/20170329-nacheoc-crusan-gatens-hab-eclss-v5b.pdf.  Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  29. ↑ Erin Mahoney (9 August 2016). "NextSTEP Partners Develop Ground Prototypes to Expand our Knowledge of Deep Space Habitats". NASA. https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nextstep-partnerships-develop-ground-prototypes.  Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  30. ↑ "NASA Awards Artemis Contract for Lunar Gateway Power, Propulsion" (Press release). NASA. 23 May 2019. Archived from the original on 20 September 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2019. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  31. ↑ Foust, Jeff (May 23, 2019). "NASA selects Maxar to build first Gateway element". SpaceNews. https://spacenews.com/nasa-selects-maxar-to-build-first-gateway-element. 
  32. ↑ Status of Advanced Electric Propulsion Systems for Exploration Missions R. Joseph Cassady, Sam Wiley, Jerry Jackson; Aerojet Rocketdyne, October 2018
  33. ↑ "Maxar and Busek Thruster System for NASA Lunar Gateway Passes Critical Milestone". www.prnewswire.com (Press release). Retrieved 2021-04-28.
  34. ↑ Robinson, Julie A. (11 October 2018). "Update on Gateway with Science and Technology (Utilization) Discussion". https://sites.nationalacademies.org/cs/groups/depssite/documents/webpage/deps_189332.pdf. 
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 https://blog.maxar.com/space-infrastructure/2021/power-and-propulsion-element-for-nasas-gateway-successfully-passes-important-review-and-suppliers-are-manufacturing-hardware
  36. ↑ Gebhardt, Chris (7 August 2020). "Northrop Grumman outlines HALO plans for Gateway’s central module". https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2020/08/northrop-halo-plans-gateway/. 
  37. ↑ "NASA Awards Contract to Launch Initial Elements for Lunar Outpost". NASA. 9 Feb 2021. https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-awards-contract-to-launch-initial-elements-for-lunar-outpost/. 
  38. ↑ "Gateway's HALO Making Moves - NASA" (in en-US). 2024-06-10. https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/gateway-halo-making-moves/. 
  39. ↑ Whitney, Jamie (2025-07-08). "Redwire completes first deployment test of lunar gateway solar array" (in en). https://www.militaryaerospace.com/power/article/55301599/redwire-completes-first-deployment-test-of-lunar-gateway-solar-array. 

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