Tim Cole: Maxar Completes Systems Requirements Review of Lunar Gateway’s Propulsion Element

Tim Cole, program manager for the power and propulsion element at Maxar Technologies, said in an interview published Monday that the company wrapped up the two-day systems requirements review of the PPE at its Palo Alto, Calif.-based facility to assess and document the platform’s technical requirements.

Maxar received a potential $375M contract in May to build the propulsion component for NASA’s proposed lunar Gateway and Cole said the company will now move the element to Phase 0 system safety review in November and conduct a preliminary design review in February.

He noted that PPE will leverage a modified version of the company’s 1300-class spacecraft platform, which will feature the Roll Out Solar Array system, refueling interfaces, communications network and high-power electric propulsion subsystems.

Cole added that the propulsion element “will serve as a foundation for a major space transportation capability, supporting future missions to Mars.”