LM Team Demos High Power Electric Propulsion System for TSAT

(Sunnyvale, Calif., July 23, 2008) -- The Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT]/Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC) Transformational Satellite Communications System (TSAT) Space Segment team has completed a successful demonstration of its new-generation High Power Hall Current Thruster (HPHCT) electric propulsion system designed for use on the U.S. Air Force's TSAT constellation.

TSAT will provide thousands of military users with wideband, highly mobile, beyond line-of-sight protected communications to support network-centric operations for the future battlefield.

Developed by Lockheed Martin and Aerojet, the Hall Current propulsion technology provides significantly improved fuel efficiency over conventional chemical propulsion systems. The Hall Current Thruster system will be used for both orbit transfer, as well as on-orbit station keeping. Aerojet has over 30 years of experience developing and supplying the electric propulsion needs for critical military, civil and commercial satellites.

"We are extremely pleased with the performance of our next-generation TSAT thruster system," said Mark Pasquale, Lockheed Martin's TSAT vice president. "Successful demonstration and validation of thruster capability during the risk reduction and system definition phase is a key achievement for the entire team and represents another major milestone for this critical national program."

Source : Lockheed Martin

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