Jane Edwards
Aerojet Rocketdyne and Sierra Nevada Corp. have partnered to conduct an architectural study for a deep space habitat system.
Sierra Nevada is one of the six contractors selected by NASA to perform research and development work on prototypes of habitation systems under the agency’s Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnership-2 program.
“We look forward to working with our industry partners on an architectural study for a habitat system that will allow humans to live in space farther from Earth and for longer durations than ever before,” Eileen Drake, Aerojet Rocketdyne president and CEO, said in a statement released Wednesday.
Aerojet Rocketdyne said it will develop a prototype of the PowerTrain Solar Electric Propulsion system under the 18-month architectural study.
The PowerTrain SEP system works to deliver solar array-derived power to the spacecraft thrusters and is designed to work with Hall-effect thruster propulsion platforms.
Aerojet Rocketdyne will also collaborate with SNC to develop common interfaces, testing procedures and standards for the habitat platform, as well as conduct integrated tests of ground prototypes by 2018.
