BOULDER, Colo., Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Ball Aerospace
has successfully completed on-orbit testing of NASA's Green
Propellant Infusion Mission (GPIM), which included ASCENT, a
non-toxic, high-performance propellant developed by the Air Force
Research Laboratory (AFRL), on board a Ball-built small
satellite.
GPIM launched on June 25, 2019 at
2:30 a.m. EDT on board a SpaceX
Falcon Heavy rocket and was commissioned in early July of the same
year.
"The successful completion of this mission advances in-space
propulsion for the entire user community, which opens up the
possibility for a variety of missions," said Dr. Makenzie Lystrup, vice president and general
manager, Civil Space, Ball Aerospace. "GPIM has the potential to
inspire new ideas and new missions, which could mean smaller
spacecraft, faster and easier ground processing, longer design
lives and more – enabling science at any scale."
Ball designed and built the small satellite, which contains
NASA's first opportunity to demonstrate the practical capabilities
of a "green" propellant and propulsion system in orbit – an
alternative to conventional chemical propulsion systems. The
propellant is a Hydroxyl Ammonium Nitrate fuel and oxidizer
monopropellant developed by the AFRL.
GPIM is part of NASA's Technology Demonstration Missions program
within the Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD), and
Christopher McLean of Ball Aerospace
serves as the principal investigator. Aerojet Rocketdyne designed
and built the thruster payload for GPIM that provides propulsion
for the spacecraft.
"Aerojet Rocketdyne's specially-engineered green propulsion
system proved that satellites can operate on orbit utilizing
hydrazine-alternative propellant," said Jim
Maser, senior vice president of space at Aerojet Rocketdyne.
"With an extensive offering of flight proven chemical and electric
propulsion systems, green propulsion was a natural progression for
the company and we're excited to help usher in a new era of
satellite operations."
Ball Aerospace and its partners tested the satellite thruster
capabilities by verifying the propulsion subsystem, propellant
performance, thruster performance and spacecraft attitude control
performance. While in orbit, GPIM is testing the fuel and
compatible propulsion system – which includes tanks, valves, and
thrusters – by conducting orbital maneuvers to demonstrate the
propellant's performance during attitude control maneuvers and
orbit lowering.
With approximately 95 percent of the demonstration completed to
date, the flight mission has proven that the ASCENT fuel and
compatible propulsion system can be a viable, effective alternative
for NASA and the commercial spaceflight industry. GPIM will soon
begin a final series of burns that will deplete the remainder of
the ASCENT fuel and the spacecraft will reenter the earth's
atmosphere to complete the mission.
As the prime contractor for GPIM, Ball Aerospace is responsible
for system engineering; flight thruster performance verification;
ground and flight data review; spacecraft bus development; payload
assembly integration and test; and launch and flight support. GPIM
uses the Ball Configurable Platform (BCP) small satellite, which is
about the size of a mini refrigerator. The BCP small satellite
provides standard payload interfaces and streamlined procedures,
allowing rapid and affordable access to space with flight-proven
performance. There are currently two additional BCP small
satellites performing on orbit: STPSat-2, which launched in
November 2010, and STPSat-3, which
launched in November 2013. The two
STP satellites were built for the U.S. Air Force Space Test
Program's Standard Interface Vehicle (STP-SIV) project.
Powered by endlessly curious people with an unwavering mission
focus, Ball Aerospace pioneers discoveries that enable our
customers to perform beyond expectation and protect what matters
most. We create innovative space solutions, enable more accurate
weather forecasts, drive insightful observations of our planet,
deliver actionable data and intelligence, and ensure those who
defend our freedom go forward bravely and return home safely. Go
Beyond with Ball.® For more information, visit
www.ball.com/aerospace or connect with us on Facebook or
Twitter.
About Ball Corporation
Ball Corporation (NYSE: BLL) supplies innovative, sustainable
aluminum packaging solutions for beverage, personal care and
household products customers, as well as aerospace and other
technologies and services primarily for the U.S. government. Ball
Corporation and its subsidiaries employ more than 18,300 people
worldwide and reported 2019 net sales of $11.5 billion. For more information, visit
www.ball.com, or connect with us on Facebook or Twitter.
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SOURCE Ball Aerospace