// PROPULSION SYSTEMS AND ENGINE TECHNOLOGY TERM
Solar Electric Propulsion
Solar Electric Propulsion is a way to move spacecraft using solar panels to create electricity. This electricity then powers a very efficient thruster that pushes out a small amount of gas at high speed, providing a gentle but constant push over a long time.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
Solar Electric Propulsion (SEP) is a high specific impulse (Isp) spacecraft propulsion technology where photovoltaic arrays convert solar energy into electrical power for an electric thruster, such as a Hall-effect or gridded-ion engine, which ionizes and accelerates a propellant like xenon to produce low, continuous thrust for orbit raising, station-keeping, and interplanetary missions.
BACKGROUND
Spacecraft electric propulsion encompasses propulsion systems that use electric energy to accelerate and expel propellant, generating thrust through electric or magnetic fields. Their principal advantage over chemical rockets is much higher specific impulse, meaning greater propellant efficiency, but the limited electrical power available aboard spacecraft yields much lower thrust, making electric propulsion unsuitable for launch from Earth's surface and better suited to long-duration in-space maneuvers.
READ MORE ON WIKIPEDIASYNONYMS & ALIASES
- SEP
- solar-powered ion drive
- photovoltaic propulsion
- solar ion propulsion
- high-Isp electric propulsion
USAGE NOTE
SEP is highly effective for fuel-efficient, long-duration missions in space, but its performance degrades significantly as the spacecraft travels farther from the sun.
DEVELOPERS
Organizations developing technology related to Solar Electric Propulsion.
An L3Harris Technologies company, Aerojet Rocketdyne developed the high-power Advanced Electric Propulsion System (AEPS) Hall thrusters for use on NASA's Gateway lunar outpost.
A US-based company specializing in advanced electric propulsion technology, developing and manufacturing a variety of systems including Hall thrusters, electrospray thrusters, and gridded ion engines for spacecraft of all sizes.
A primary NASA center for aerospace propulsion research and development. Glenn leads the development and testing of advanced solar electric propulsion systems, including the thrusters for the Psyche mission and the Power and Propulsion Element (PPE) for the lunar Gateway.
A space technology company that is the prime contractor for NASA's Power and Propulsion Element (PPE). Maxar has a long history of integrating high-power solar electric propulsion on its commercial communications satellites for orbit-raising maneuvers.
A leading European developer and manufacturer of in-space propulsion systems. They produce the PPS series of Hall effect thrusters, which are used on numerous telecommunications and institutional satellites worldwide.
A major aerospace and defense company that builds satellites and spacecraft. They utilize solar electric propulsion on their GEOStar communications satellites for efficient orbit raising and station-keeping, extending mission life.
A Franco-Italian aerospace manufacturer that develops and integrates electric propulsion into its satellite platforms, such as the all-electric Spacebus Neo, and also develops its own thruster technology.
A French company focused on developing electric propulsion systems and mission solutions for the small satellite market, offering a range of Hall thrusters designed for agility and performance in low Earth orbit.
A federally funded research and development center managed for NASA by Caltech. JPL pioneered the use of solar electric (ion) propulsion for deep space science missions, including the successful Dawn and Deep Space 1 missions.