NASA has begun testing the world's most powerful electric rocket engine for the Lunar Gateway orbital station

NASA has begun qualification tests of the engine for the Lunar Gateway station. It will appear in the orbit of the Moon in the coming years as part of the Artemis programme.

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The developer of the propulsion system is the company Aerojet Rocketdyne. The electric rocket motor has a power of 12 kW, which makes it the world's most powerful installation of this class. Moreover, the previous record holder was a motor with a power of only 3 kW.

It is expected that Lunar Gateway will go into space in 2025. The station will be equipped with three electric motors. NASA believes they will be able to keep Lunar Gateway in orbit for at least 15 years.

Each engine will be installed in a Power and Propulsion Element module, powered by solar panels with a total output of 60 kW. Xenon will be used as the working body. The module's tank will hold up to 2,000kg of gas.

NASA has already received the first propulsion system and prepared it for testing. The second engine will be delivered next year. Fire tests are also expected in 2024. Interestingly, the agency will not have time to conduct all the tests, as they will last for four years. Nevertheless, the results obtained should be enough to send Lunar Gateway into space.

Source: NASA