High-Power Full-Scale Annular Plasma Engine Demonstration

The performance, and development and infusion rates of in-space electric propulsion (EP) systems must be increased to increase mission operational capabilities. Today these systems are: unaffordable for many applications; and there is no EP technology that is scalable from 1600s to >4000s at power levels of interest. We believe these objectives can be achieved by developing the Next Generation Electric Propulsion Thruster (NGEPT); a GRC-patented modular EP device based on a new arrangement of relatively mature and proven technologies with the potential to yield revolutionary capabilities. The design basis for the NGEPT is the Annular Engine (AE). The AE delivers two revolutionary capabilities: It Enables Extensibility of Ion Technology to High Power at High Thrust Density It Creates a New Cost Paradigm for EP by Enabling a Reconfigurable Architecture

This concept is also the most promising candidate to address the NASA Grand Challenge of Efficient In-Space Transportation over the next several decades. In the mid to far term, as defined in the In-Space Propulsion Systems Roadmap, Solar Electric Propulsion (SEP) provides the most credible approach to provide improved propulsion performance. This technology would benefit Earth- and Planetary Orbital applications including orbital transfers and orbital debris mitigation, and would benefit science missions in Earth Observatory, Cis-Lunar, and interplanetary, as well as cargo missions in support of human architectures. This technology has potential direct application to future commercial missions requiring Elecltic Propulsion for Low Earth Orbit, NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office (MEO) , and Group Earth Observations spacecraft platforms. This technology has potential direct application to future National Security Space missions.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 6) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.