Momentus Continues Testing of Sustainable Spacecraft Engine and New Type of Solar Array
14 Novembro 2023 - 9:33AM
Business Wire
Momentus Inc. (NASDAQ: MNTS) ("Momentus" or the "Company"), a
U.S. commercial space company that offers satellite buses,
transportation, and other in-space infrastructure services,
continues to advance in-space testing of its Microwave
Electrothermal Thruster (MET) and recently completed initial
in-space testing of its Tape Spring Solar Array (TASSA).
MET Testing Continues with
Dual-Thruster Firings
The MET is the Vigoride Orbital Service Vehicle’s (OSV) primary
propulsion method that relies on solar power and uses water as a
propellant. The Vigoride OSV has redundant systems to improve
reliability, including two MET thrusters that can be operated
independently. The Vigoride OSV will typically operate using one
thruster, however, having two thrusters on the spacecraft enhances
reliability and if additional thrust is needed to support faster
movement of satellites over substantial distances or to new orbits,
firing both thrusters enables the spacecraft to travel faster and
farther. Momentus successfully completed the initial on-orbit
testing sequence of the MET earlier this year and then paused
testing to prioritize providing hosted payload services to Caltech
for its Space Solar Power Demonstration program. MET testing is now
continuing with advancement into dual thruster-firings.
“We’ve been building on our MET testing from earlier this year
and have now performed multiple dual thruster firings, including
firings up to the full duration planned for our near-term
operational use cases of a five-minute-long dual thruster firing,”
said Momentus Chief Technology Officer Rob Schwarz. “Dual thruster
firings will enable more efficient orbit transfer times for
customers. As of today, we have approximately 230 minutes of firing
time on the MET between both thrusters. In total, we’ve executed
approximately 6.5 km in orbital raises of the Vigoride OSV by
firing the MET in single or dual-thruster firings.”
The MET technology has achieved firing times that are consistent
with the operational times required for Momentus missions. Its
non-toxic water propellant is intended to enable simpler, safer,
and more cost-efficient operations preparing the spacecraft for
launch on Earth and in operation in space.
“Momentus tailors the type of propulsion system we use to meet
mission needs,” said Schwarz. “The MET technology maturation as
demonstrated is ideal for servicing missions. The engine is also
offered as one of several types of propulsion systems available for
the Momentus M-1000 satellite bus.”
Initial In-Space TASSA Testing
Complete
Momentus’ TASSA is a developmental payload onboard the
Vigoride-6 OSV that utilizes flexible solar cell technology,
allowing the solar array to be extended and retracted like a tape
measure, using its concave shape to provide rigidity. Momentus was
recently notified that its application was approved to issue the
company a patent for technology behind TASSA.
TASSA is designed to be deployed and retracted on orbit numerous
times, is configurable to varying lengths based on power
requirements, and utilizes thin film solar cells that are radiation
resistant and self-annealing. To date, the mission was able to
demonstrate the majority of the major performance requirements,
including boom yoke deployment, initial roll out deployment, thin
film flexible solar cell power generation, low-cost slip ring
performance, and retraction, providing confidence as well as
identifying areas for improvement as Momentus continues development
of this technology.
“This demonstration mission and the valuable data we collected
gives us confidence in the mechanical and electrical components, as
well as in the thin film solar cells on TASSA,” said Schwarz. “Like
most demo missions, we learned a great deal by operating the system
on-orbit over an extended period, which is a big step forward. We
look forward to improving the design and flying future TASSA
demonstrations. With TASSA we aim to provide power to the
spacecraft at less than 50% of the cost of currently available
solar arrays on the market.”
Once TASSA is fully flight qualified, Momentus estimates that
replacing Vigoride's current solar array with TASSA will
substantially reduce the overall recurring production cost of its
spacecraft.
Since August, Momentus has signed six commercial contracts and
raised more than $16 million in gross proceeds. The Company is
currently booking customers for 2024 missions. Email
sales@momentus.space to start the reservation process.
About Momentus
Momentus is a U.S. commercial space company that offers
satellite buses and in-space infrastructure services including
transportation, hosted payloads, and other in-orbit services.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain statements which may
constitute “forward-looking statements” for purposes of the federal
securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, but are not
limited to, statements regarding Momentus or its management team’s
expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding
the future, projections, forecasts or other characterizations of
future events or circumstances, including any underlying
assumptions, and are not guarantees of future performance. Because
forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject
to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that
are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of Momentus’
control. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ
materially from the forward-looking statements in this press
release, including but not limited to risks and uncertainties
included under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Annual Report on
Form 10-K filed by the Company on March 8, 2023, as such factors
may be updated from time to time in our other filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), accessible on the
SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and the Investor Relations section of
our website at investors.momentus.space. Forward-looking statements
speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not
to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and, except as
required by law, the Company assumes no obligation and does not
intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements,
whether as a result of new information, future events, or
otherwise.
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Media: press@momentus.space
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