TRW-Built, High-Powered Electric Propulsion System Successfully Demonstrates Capabilities In On-Orbit Testing.REDONDO BEACH Redondo Beach (rĭdŏn`dō), city (1990 pop. 60,167), Los Angeles co., S Calif., on the Pacific Ocean; inc. 1892. Once a commercial port for Los Angeles, it is a residential and resort city with a protected harbor and an excellent marina. , Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 8, 1999--A TRW TRW The Real World (TV reality show) TRW The Right Way TRW Tactical Reconnaissance Wing TRW The Retriever Weekly (University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD) TRW Thompson Ramo Wooldridge Inc Inc. (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange :TRW)-built high-powered electric propulsion Electric propulsion is a form of spacecraft propulsion used in outer space. This type of rocket engines utilize electric energy to obtain thrust, unlike the "normal" rocket engines that use chemical energy. system is demonstrating its capabilities onboard an orbiting Air Force satellite. The Electric Propulsion Space Experiment (ESEX ESEX Electric Propulsion Space Experiment ) is a 30-kilowatt ammonia-fueled arcjet system, the highest power electric propulsion system flown in space to date. It is one of nine experiments on the Air Force Space and Missile System Center's Advanced Research and Global Observation Satellite (ARGOS Argos, city, ancient Greece Argos (är`gŏs, –gəs), city of ancient Greece, in NE Peloponnesus, 3 mi (4.8 km) inland from the Gulf of Argos, near the modern Nauplia. ), which was launched on February 23 from Vandenberg Air Force Base Vandenberg Air Force Base, U.S. military installation, 3,456 acres (1,399 hectares), SW Calif., near Lompoc; chief Pacific coast launch site for military satellites. . "We are delighted with the performance to date of the ESEX system," said Mary Kriebel, manager, electric propulsion programs, TRW Space & Electronics Group. "ESEX is operating very well, providing the Air Force a very stable platform from which to demonstrate the compatibility of this advanced high-powered arcjet technology with an operational spacecraft." ESEX is also demonstrating that the scalability of electric propulsion systems, which enable a variety of space missions, is limited only by the amount of power available on the spacecraft. "With the increasing power capabilities of advanced solar arrays, systems must keep pace with the challenge of processing large amounts of power without affecting onboard electronics and operations," said Kriebel. "The success of ESEX shows those challenges are achievable." The arcjet has been fired four times as of mid-March for a total of more than 20 minutes, and by the completion of the ESEX experiment, will have fired for more that 150 minutes. Since ARGOS' launch, a team of researchers has been processing the data collected by the system and from ground observations to verify the performance of the arcjet and quantify any impacts the operating arcjet may have on the spacecraft. The system has been performing nominally to date and has exhibited no interference with the ARGOS' operations. Arcjet research technology has been under development at the Air Force Research Lab's Edwards facilities since the early 1980s. TRW designed, developed, built and flight-qualified the high-powered electric propulsion system under a contract awarded by the Lab's Propulsion Directorate in 1990. TRW served as the prime contractor on the ESEX project and was responsible for all of the system engineering and flight qualification testing. Subcontract team members include Primex Aerospace Company and Orbital Sciences Corp. TRW is a leader in propulsion products and technology. The company provides propulsion componets, engines, and systems for spacecraft attitude and velocity control, orbit maneuvering and adjust, tactical mission steering and orbit insertion Orbit insertion is a maneuver performed by an inter-planetary spacecraft designed to allow the spacecraft to be captured into orbit around a planet or other body such as a moon. The spacecraft approaches the planet at a speed greater than the escape velocity of the planet. . An operating unit operating unit A type of operating company that engages in transactions with outsiders and that is owned by another business. For example, in 1995 the stockholders of Capital Cities/ABC approved a $19 billion merger with the Walt Disney Company, whereupon of TRW Inc., TRW Space & Electronics Group produces advanced technology spacecraft and electronics systems for U.S. government, commercial and international customers. TRW Inc. provides advanced technology products and services for the automotive, space and defense, and information technology markets worldwide. Sales in 1998 totaled approximately $12 billion. |
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