Electric Propulsion System Selected for Sherpa-LTE
When the Sherpa-LTE is launched, likely in mid-2021, it will be powered by an electric propulsion system developed by Apollo Fusion.
We have a successful track record of developing and deploying spacecraft from in-space vehicles. We're delighted to have Apollo's high-performance propulsion system onboard to help our customers reach their target orbits efficiently and reliably."
Curt Blake, president and CEO of Spaceflight.
The company announced that it has been selected as the electric propulsion system for Spaceflight Inc.'s Sherpa-LTE. The Sherpa-LTE is a high specific impulse (Isp), xenon propellant, electric propulsion orbital transfer vehicle (OTV). It builds on Spaceflight's Sherpa-NG program by incorporating Apollo Constellation Engine (ACE) — a low thrust, high efficiency, radiation hardened Hall thruster propulsion system developed by Apollo Fusion, Inc. As ACE systems are able to generate nearly four miles per second of delta-V, Sherpa-LTE now has the capability to deliver customers to GEO, Cislunar, or Earth-escape orbits. Sherpa-LTE provides a low-cost alternative to purchasing full direct-inject launch vehicles and will extend the ability of small launch vehicles that are currently under development to reach beyond low Earth orbit.
"We're thrilled to partner with Spaceflight Inc. to provide the significant delta-V required for Sherpa-LTE to deliver Spaceflight Inc. customers to their final orbits in LEO, GEO, and beyond," said Apollo CEO Mike Cassidy.
"We have a successful track record of developing and deploying spacecraft from in-space vehicles," added Curt Blake, president and CEO of Spaceflight. "And we're delighted to have Apollo's high-performance propulsion system onboard to help our customers reach their target orbits efficiently and reliably."
Apollo Fusion, Inc. designs and builds Hall thruster propulsion systems for a variety of government and commercial satellite programs. The Apollo team members have extremely deep aerospace experience and over the course of their careers have designed and built systems that are flying on over 1,000 satellites that are in orbit today.
Hall thrusters accelerate ions to speeds faster than escape velocity. As ACE's propellant is ionized, the electrical field accelerates it to speeds up to nine miles per second. Objects in LEO traveling faster than 4.8 miles per second escape Earth's gravitational pull and leave Earth's orbit entirely.
Apollo has raised nearly $25 million in funding.
(Image provided with Apollo Fusion news release)