{"id":61646,"date":"2020-08-20T17:01:00","date_gmt":"2020-08-20T21:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?migration=converted-node-463803"},"modified":"2023-07-26T15:59:50","modified_gmt":"2023-07-26T19:59:50","slug":"nasas-green-propellant-infusion-mission-nears-completion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/missions\/tech-demonstration\/nasas-green-propellant-infusion-mission-nears-completion\/","title":{"rendered":"NASA\u2019s Green Propellant Infusion Mission Nears Completion"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><b><i>Editor\u2019s Note:<\/i><\/b> <i>This feature was updated Sept. 10, 2020, to more accurately reflect the spacecraft\u2019s re-entry plan. <\/i><em>NASA <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NASA_Technology\/status\/1318571800456933376\" rel=\"noopener\">announced<\/a> Oct. 20, <\/em><em>2020, that<\/em> <em>the small spacecraft has safely re-entered Earth\u2019s atmosphere.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>NASA just validated a new type of propellant, or fuel, for spacecraft of all sizes. Instead of toxic hydrazine, space missions can use a less toxic, \u201cgreen\u201d propellant and the compatible technologies designed to go along with it. In a little over a year since <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/press-release\/nasa-technology-missions-launch-on-spacex-falcon-heavy\">launch<\/a>, NASA\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission_pages\/tdm\/green\/overview.html\">Green Propellant Infusion Mission<\/a> (GPIM) successfully proved a never-before-used propellant and propulsion system work as intended, demonstrating both are practical options for future missions.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/ascent.jpg\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1152\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/ascent.jpg?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"An Aerojet Rocketdyne researcher examines a container of the Advanced Spacecraft Energetic Non-Toxic (ASCENT) \" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/ascent.jpg 3840w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/ascent.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/ascent.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/ascent.jpg?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/ascent.jpg?resize=1536,864 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/ascent.jpg?resize=2048,1152 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/ascent.jpg?resize=400,225 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/ascent.jpg?resize=600,338 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/ascent.jpg?resize=900,506 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/ascent.jpg?resize=1200,675 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/ascent.jpg?resize=2000,1125 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">An Aerojet Rocketdyne researcher examines a container of the Advanced Spacecraft Energetic Non-Toxic (ASCENT) monopropellant during preparation for flight testing.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">Credits: Aerojet<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>GPIM set out to test a monopropellant \u2013 a chemical propellant that can burn by itself without a separate oxidizer \u2013 called Advanced Spacecraft Energetic Non-Toxic (ASCENT). Formerly known as AF-M315E, the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory invented the propellant at Edwards Air Force Base in California. It is an alternative to the monopropellant hydrazine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis is the first time in 50 years NASA tested a new, high-performing monopropellant in space,\u201d said Tim Smith, GPIM mission manager at NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. \u201cIt has the potential to supplement or even replace hydrazine, which spacecraft have used since the 1960s.\u201d Based at Marshall, NASA\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission_pages\/tdm\/main\/index.html\">Technology Demonstration Mission<\/a> (TDM) program manages the mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>GPIM\u2019s effective demonstration of the propellant paved the way for NASA\u2019s acceptance of ASCENT in new missions. The next NASA mission to use ASCENT will be <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jpl.nasa.gov\/missions\/lunar-flashlight\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Lunar Flashlight<\/a>. The small spacecraft, which aims to provide clear-cut information about the presence of water deposits inside craters on the Moon, will launch as a secondary payload on Artemis I, the first integrated flight test of NASA\u2019s Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System (SLS) rocket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite being pink in color, ASCENT is considered \u201cgreen\u201d for its significantly reduced toxicity compared to hydrazine, which requires protective suits and rigorous propellant loading processing procedures. It is safer to store and use, requiring minimal personal protective equipment such as lab coats, goggles, and gloves. Besides being easier and less expensive to handle here on Earth, when loading a spacecraft with propellant, for example, ASCENT will allow spacecraft to travel farther or operate longer with less propellant in their tank, given its higher performance.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/gpim_inside_falcon_heavy_rocket.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1041\" height=\"696\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/gpim_inside_falcon_heavy_rocket.png?w=1041\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"NASA\u2019s Green Propellant Infusion Mission (GPIM) inside the Falcon Heavy rocket.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/gpim_inside_falcon_heavy_rocket.png 1041w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/gpim_inside_falcon_heavy_rocket.png?resize=300,201 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/gpim_inside_falcon_heavy_rocket.png?resize=768,513 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/gpim_inside_falcon_heavy_rocket.png?resize=1024,685 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/gpim_inside_falcon_heavy_rocket.png?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/gpim_inside_falcon_heavy_rocket.png?resize=600,401 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/gpim_inside_falcon_heavy_rocket.png?resize=900,602 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1041px) 100vw, 1041px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">NASA\u2019s Green Propellant Infusion Mission (GPIM) inside the Falcon Heavy rocket.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\"><strong><em>Credits: SpaceX<\/em><\/strong><\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>But to test the propellant on a small spacecraft, the GPIM team had to develop hardware and systems compatible with the liquid. Aerojet Rocketdyne of Redmond, Washington, designed and built the five thrusters onboard GPIM. Aerojet Rocketdyne and Ball Aerospace of Boulder, Colorado, co-designed the other elements of the propulsion system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While in orbit, GPIM tested the propellant and propulsion system, including the thrusters, tanks, and valves, by conducting a planned series of orbital maneuvers. Attitude control maneuvers, the process of maintaining stable control of a satellite, and orbit lowering demonstrated the propellant\u2019s pre-mission projected performance, showing a 50% increase in gas mileage for the spacecraft compared to hydrazine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With the technology demonstration objectives almost complete, the mission proved ASCENT and the compatible propulsion system are a viable, effective alternative for NASA and the commercial spaceflight industry, Smith said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe can attribute GPIM\u2019s success to a strong partnership,\u201d Smith added. NASA\u2019s Space Technology Mission Directorate selected Ball Aerospace to lead the mission in 2012. In addition to building the mini-refrigerator-sized spacecraft, the company integrated and tested the payloads and propulsion system before launch and provides flight operations support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe are excited to announce flight operations have been very smooth, with the new propulsion subsystem operating as we anticipated,\u201d said Christopher McLean, GPIM principal investigator for Ball Aerospace. \u201cWe greatly appreciate the partnership and continuous support throughout this mission from NASA\u2019s Space Technology Mission Directorate, and program management office at Marshall.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>GPIM approaches mission completion, and the spacecraft has started a series of deorbit burns. Approximately seven burns will lower the orbit to about 110 miles (180 kilometers) and deplete the propellant tank. The small spacecraft is anticipated to re-enter Earth\u2019s atmosphere in late September 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To learn more about GPIM, visit:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission_pages\/tdm\/green\/overview.html\">https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission_pages\/tdm\/green\/overview.html<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Editor\u2019s Note: This feature was updated Sept. 10, 2020, to more accurately reflect the spacecraft\u2019s re-entry plan. NASA announced Oct. 20, 2020, that the small spacecraft has safely re-entered Earth\u2019s atmosphere. NASA just validated a new type of propellant, or fuel, for spacecraft of all sizes. Instead of toxic hydrazine, space missions can use a less toxic, \u201cgreen\u201d propellant [...]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":373,"featured_media":62681,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":[],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[3206,2864,2788,3335],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[],"coauthors":[3854,8379],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"NASA\u2019s Green Propellant Infusion Mission Nears Completion","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/missions\/tech-demonstration\/nasas-green-propellant-infusion-mission-nears-completion\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/missions\/tech-demonstration\/nasas-green-propellant-infusion-mission-nears-completion\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/ascent.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/ascent.jpg"},"articleSection":"Missions","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"NASA"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Beth Ridgeway"}],"creator":["NASA","Beth Ridgeway"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NASA","logo":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/themes\/nasa\/assets\/images\/nasa-logo.svg"},"keywords":["NASA Directorates","Space Technology Mission Directorate","Technology Demonstration Missions Program","Green Propellant Infusion","Marshall Space Flight Center","Technology Demonstration"],"dateCreated":"2020-08-20T21:01:00Z","datePublished":"2020-08-20T21:01:00Z","dateModified":"2023-07-26T19:59:50Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"NASA\u2019s Green Propellant Infusion Mission Nears Completion\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/missions\/tech-demonstration\/nasas-green-propellant-infusion-mission-nears-completion\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"post\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/ascent.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2020-08-20T21:01:00Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"Missions\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"NASA Directorates,Space Technology Mission Directorate,Technology Demonstration Missions Program,Green Propellant Infusion,Marshall Space Flight Center,Technology Demonstration\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"NASA\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"Beth Ridgeway\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":4,"time_ago":"4 years","featured_image":{"id":62681,"file":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/ascent.jpg","title":"ascent","alt":"An Aerojet Rocketdyne researcher examines a container of the Advanced Spacecraft Energetic Non-Toxic (ASCENT)","caption":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61646"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/373"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=61646"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61646\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":358631,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61646\/revisions\/358631"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/62681"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=61646"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=61646"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=61646"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=61646"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=61646"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}