NASA's In-Space Propulsion Technology Project: An Overview of Product Status

The In-Space Propulsion Technology Project (ISPT), funded by NASA's Science Mission Directorate (SMD), is continuing to invest in propulsion technologies that will enable or enhance NASA robotic science missions. This paper provides development status, benefits and availability of in-space propulsion technology products and a brief summary of the mission and systems analysis. The ISPT products are: 1) NASA’s Evolutionary Xenon Thruster (NEXT) gridded ion propulsion system, 2) the Advanced Materials Bi-propellant Rocket (AMBR), 3) an aerocapture system, and 4) a low cost high voltage Hall thruster. Inspace propulsion technologies are applicable, and potentially enabling a variety of science mission classes and destinations.