High Performance Nitrous Oxide MET, Phase I

This proposal seeks to address the topic of developing an on-board propulsion device which will significantly increase capabilities and reduce costs for Earth science spacecraft. The propulsion device which is proposed here is a microwave powered, electrothermal thruster which will utilized nitrous-oxide as a propellant. The device is referred to a MET-100, a Microwave Electrothermal Thruster which has a nominal power output of 150 W. The thruster will utilized 300 W of spacecraft power and develop a specific impulse of 300 seconds.

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.

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.