NASA Starts Up Gateway’s Power System for First Time

Development continues on NASA’s Power and Propulsion Element, a solar-electric propulsion spacecraft designed to provide power to Gateway in lunar orbit.

Capable of generating 60 kilowatts of power, the element was successfully energized early last year. This step demonstrates that the element can provide the spacecraft with power, high-speed communications, attitude control, and the ability to maintain and maneuver between orbits.

The power and propulsion element is managed by NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland and built by industry partner Lanteris Space Systems in Palo Alto, Calif., where teams secured the element’s main electrical system inside protective exterior panels. On deck for installation at Lanteris Space Systems are three 12-kilowatt Advanced Electric Propulsion System thrusters, manufactured by L3Harris, and four 6-kilowatt BHT-6000 thrusters built by Busek. Solar panel deployment for Gateway has been completed and is being tested at Redwire’s facility in Goleta, California.

For more information on NASA’s lunar exploration missions, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/artemis