NASA has begun qualification tests of the engine for the Lunar Gateway station. In the coming years it will appear on
What is known
The developer of the power plant is the companyAerojet Rocketdyne. The electric rocket engine has a power of 12 kW, which makes it the most powerful installation in the world in this class. And earlier the record holder was an engine with a power of only 3 kW.
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Lunar Gateway is expected to go into spacein 2025. The station will be equipped with three electric motors. NASA believes they can keep the Lunar Gateway in orbit for at least 15 years.
Each motor will be installed in the Power Moduleand Propulsion Element powered by solar panels with a total capacity of 60 kW. Xenon will be used as a working fluid. The tank of the module will hold up to 2000 kg of gas.
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NASA has already received the first propulsion system andprepared her for testing. The second engine will be delivered next year. Fire tests are also expected in 2024. Interestingly, the agency will not have time to conduct all the tests, because. they will last for four years. However, the results obtained should be enough to send the Lunar Gateway into space.