Beyond Gravity Electric Propulsion Pointing Mechanism Passes CDR

An electric propulsion pointing system being designed by Beyond Gravity for NASA's Lunar Gateway has passed its Critical Design Review (CDR).

“This is an enabling technology for PPE, which will be the most powerful solar electric propulsion spacecraft ever flown.”

Anders Linder, Executive Vice President Division Satellites at Beyond Gravity.

NASA contracted Maxar to manufacture the Power and Propulsion Element (PPE) for Gateway, which will provide the lunar space station with power and propulsion for maneuvers around the Moon and to transit between different orbits, and high-rate communications. Maxar ordered a the electric propulsion pointing mechanism from Beyond Gravity in 2019. This component provides the capability to steer or move the electric propulsion thrusters for maneuvering, orbit adjustments, and performing cislunar transfers during the life of the Gateway.

“This is an enabling technology for PPE, which will be the most powerful solar electric propulsion spacecraft ever flown,” said Anders Linder, Executive Vice President Division Satellites at Beyond Gravity. Beyond Gravity completed the component’s critical design review with Maxar in early 2022 as an important milestone toward delivery to Maxar’s manufacturing facility in Palo Alto, California.

“We will provide the world’s largest electric propulsion pointing mechanism tailor-made for PPE’s main high-power thrusters. The mechanism is closely derived from our family of modular, different-sized electric propulsion pointing mechanisms,” Linder said.

Electric Propulsion Pointing Mechanism Part of a Modular System

Beyond Gravity has more than 20 years of heritage building pointing mechanisms specifically for electric propulsion systems and supplies 2-axis and 3-axis mechanisms for different missions. “Our mechanisms are modular and adaptable to different requirements and thrusters. That is one of the biggest advantages to our customers,” said Andreas Derntl, Sales Manager in Vienna, where the mechanism is being designed and produced.

NASA has focused Gateway development on the first two elements of Gateway – the Power and Propulsion Element (PPE) and the Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO) - which will launch together on a commercially procured launch vehicle.

The Power and Propulsion Element is a high-power, 60-kilowatt solar electric propulsion spacecraft that will provide power, high-rate communications, attitude control, and orbital transfer capabilities for the Gateway. HALO is where astronauts will live and conduct research while visiting Gateway. The pressurized living quarters will provide command and control systems for the lunar outpost, and docking ports for visiting spacecraft, such as NASA’s Orion spacecraft, lunar landers, and logistics resupply craft.

(Source: Beyond Gravity News Release. Additional Information Provided by NASA. Images provided by Beyond Gravity and NASA)