NASA’s Teleconference Recap: Solar Electric Propulsion Developments For Commercial Space Capabilities, Deep Space Voyage Discussed

NASA hosted a media teleconference on Thursday, April 21, at 11:30 a.m. EDT. The said event aimed to tackle the current advances in the agency's solar electronic propulsion development or the SEP for a deep space exploration.  

The agency's awarding of the contract to the Aerojet Rocketdyne, Inc. on Tuesday for the development, as well as for the design of an advanced electric propulsion system is, in fact, the latest breakthrough in SEP. NASA's new electric propulsion system development is expected to bring advancement to the country's commercial space capabilities, including the ability for a future deep space voyage, such as the agency's Journey to Mars.

The scheduled teleconference was participated by Bryan Smith, the director of the Space Flight Systems Directorate at the NASA's Glenn Research Center which is located in Cleveland. Also joined the event is Steve Jurczyk, the associate administrator of NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate in Washington, according to News Channel.

An advancement in the electric propulsion system may likely increase the fuel efficiency of  spaceflight transportation by 10 times over the present chemical propulsion technology or even beyond the double thrust capability, as compared to the present electric propulsion technology. The next step is going to show this latest electric propulsion system in space.

NASA's development of this technology is going to advance some future in-space transportation capability for a wide range of robotic exploration missions like the NASA's Asteroid Redirect Mission or ARM, deep space human, including private commercial space missions,  Space Ref reported.

For those who wished to join the NASA teleconference, media was allowed to get in touch with Gina Anderson.

NASA's audio of the teleconference also had an online live streaming via https://www.nasa.gov/newsaudio. Meanwhile, for additional information regarding NASA technology, visit https://www.nasa.gov/technology.