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Advanced Hallow Cathode Design Build & Test
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Description
Demonstrate thruster-compatible hollow cathode that incorporates multiple innovations developed by e-Beam under the recent SBIR awards that have shown significant promise during bench testing.
Benefits
Demonstrate new hollow cathode design that overcomes limitations on power scaling and ground processing risks with State-of-the-Art (SOA) hollow cathodes to ensure that these devices meet current mission requirements. Demonstrate cathode design that can provide temperature control that ensures long-life operation (25+ kHrs) over diverse operating conditions of Ion and Hall thrusters
Details
| Technology area | Propulsion Systems > Electric Space Propulsion > Electrostatic Propulsion |
| Program | Center Innovation Fund: GRC CIF (GRC CIF) |
| Lead organization | Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, OH |
| Start date | 2025-10-01 |
| End date | 2026-09-30 |
Project contacts
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How to get involved
This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.
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