NASA to Discuss Latest Developments in Solar Electric Propulsion for Future Deep Space Exploration

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Apr 19, 2016, 04:54 ET

WASHINGTON, April 19, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NASA will host a media teleconference at 11:30 a.m. EDT Thursday, April 21, to discuss the latest advances in the agency's development of solar electric propulsion (SEP) for deep space exploration.

Tuesday's award of a contract to Aerojet Rocketdyne, Inc. for the design and development of an advanced electric propulsion system is the latest SEP milestone. A new electric propulsion system could significantly advance the nation's commercial space capabilities, and enable future deep space missions, including NASA's Journey to Mars.

The teleconference participants will be:

Steve Jurczyk, associate administrator of NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate in Washington
Bryan Smith, director of the Space Flight Systems Directorate at NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland

To participate in the teleconference, media must contact Gina Anderson at 202-358-1160 or [email protected] by 9 a.m. Thursday for dial-in information.

Audio of the teleconference will stream live online at:
http://www.nasa.gov/newsaudio

An advanced electric propulsion system could potentially increase spaceflight transportation fuel efficiency by 10 times over current chemical propulsion technology and more than double thrust capability compared to current electric propulsion technology. The next step will be to demonstrate this new electric propulsion system in space. Development of this technology will advance future in-space transportation capability for a variety of deep space human and robotic exploration missions, such as the NASA's Asteroid Redirect Mission (ARM), as well as private commercial space missions.

For more information about NASA technology, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/technology

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SOURCE NASA