GPIM is NASA's first opportunity to demonstrate a new "green" propellant and propulsion system in orbit – an alternative to conventional chemical propulsion systems. May 21, 2019: Ball Aerospace, a partner in the new NASA Green Propellant Infusion Mission (GPIM) announced their Ball Aerospace-built small spacecraft arrived in Florida today to prepare for a June launch on board a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket.The mass of of the GPIM spacecraft is ~180 kg. 4)įigure 3: Schematic view of the GPIM spacecraft (top) and the thruster assembly (bottom) of the AF-M315E propulsion system (image credit: NASA) Under a subcontract from Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., Quest Thermal Group LLC will manufacture the new insulation that will fly aboard the GPIM mission. Validating this new insulation in space will help NASA build the technology required for long human spaceflight missions. GPIM has been selected to test an advanced form of thermal insulation, called IMLI (Integrated Multi-Layer Insulation) that could become standard on future satellites and cryogenic subsystems. The small, modular spacecraft was designed to interface with an EELV (Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle) ESPA (Secondary Payload Adapter), where it can be launched as a secondary payload. This bus is of STP-SIV (Space Test Program-Standard Interface Vehicle) bus heritage of BATC, flown on the STP-S26/STPSat-2 and the ORS-3/STPSat-3 missions of the USAF. The GPIM spacecraft is using the BCP-100 (Ball Configurable Platform 100) standard interface bus. and two NASA field centers: NASA/GRC (Glenn Research Center) in Cleveland, OH, and NASA/KSC (Kennedy Space Center), FL. AFRL (Air Force Research Laboratory) at Edwards AFB, CA the Air Force SMC (Space and Missile Systems Center) at Kirtland Air Force Base, NM. The team includes Aerojet Rocketdyne of Sacramento, CA the U.S. The GPIM project is managed by NASA/MSFC (Marshall Space Flight Center) in Huntsville, AL.īATC (Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.) of Boulder, CO, is the prime contractor for GPIM and is leading the demonstration of the alternative fuel for future space vehicles. During the test flight, researchers will conduct orbital maneuvers to demonstrate the performance of the propellant during attitude control shifts, changes in orbital inclination and orbit lowering. The GPIM payload will fly to space aboard a Ball compact small satellite. In addition, it delivers a higher specific impulse, or thrust delivered per given quantity of fuel, and has a lower freezing point, requiring less spacecraft power to maintain its temperature. It boasts a higher density than hydrazine, meaning more of it can be stored in containers of the same volume. It also requires fewer handling restrictions and potentially shorter launch processing times, resulting in lowered costs.ĪF-M315E also is expected to improve overall vehicle performance. While all rocket fuels can be dangerous to handle without the proper safety precautions, AF-M315E has significantly reduced toxicity levels compared to hydrazine, making it easier and safer to store and handle. NASA and its partners always strive to maintain the strictest safety standards for storage, transport and use of rocket propellants. The space technology infusion mission also strives to optimize performance in new hardware, system and power solutions while ensuring the best value for investment and the safest space missions possible. NASA and BATC (Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corporation) of Boulder, CO, are collaborating on the GPIM mission, which seeks to improve overall propellant efficiency while reducing the toxic handling concerns associated with the highly toxic fuel, hydrazine. AFRL (Air Force Research Laboratory) at Edwards Air Force Base, CA, is a high-performance, green alternative to hydrazine. The objective is to test the practical capabilities of a Hydroxyl Ammonium Nitrate fuel/oxidizer blend, known as “ AF-M315E.” This innovative, low-toxicity propellant, developed by the U.S. GPIM is a NASA technology demonstration mission. Spacecraft Launch Mission Status Sensor Complement References Multi-purpose imagery (ocean), Multi-purpose imagery (land)Įarth radiation budget radiometers, Other, Data collection
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