Orbital ATK, NASA Conclude Initial 22N Thruster Tests on Green Propulsion System; Cary Ralston Comments

Orbital ATK has completed the initial testing phase for a 22 Newton thruster designed to navigate satellites while in the Earth’s orbit.

The company said Tuesday it evaluated the 22N along with the 5N thruster onboard a green propulsion platform in a series of tests at NASA‘s Alabama-based Marshall Space Flight Center.

LMP-103S rocket fuel from Sweden-based company ECAPS runs the propulsion system.

“Orbital ATK and our partner ECAPS are dedicated to helping NASA achieve its goal of eliminating the challenges and risks associated with manufacturing, transporting and handling the current generation of high-performance propellants,” said Cary Ralston, vice president and general manager of the missile products division at Orbital ATK.

Orbital ATK also works with the space agency’s Glenn Research Center to evaluate the green propulsion system’s safety features.