Natick firm delivers solar space thruster
Courtesy | NASA Glenn Research Center
The BHT-600 Hall effect thruster system is pictured firing during testing.
Busek Co. of Natick, a maker of in-space propulsion, sensors and power systems, has shipped its first flight BHT-600 Hall effect thruster system, a system designed to bring small satellites from low earth orbit into geosynchronous orbit.
Hall thrusters are electric and able to make use of solar energy and small amounts of propellant to create thrust. The undisclosed customer ordered the system roughly 12 months ago for a government mission launching later this year.
This type of thruster has already passed a 7,000-hour ground test conducted by NASA at the NASA Glenn Research Center as part of a NASA Space Act Agreement. According to Busek, the system can provide movement to small satellites, constellations of satellites and even small launch vehicles.
The BHT-600 joins Busek's family of flight qualified industry-leading propulsion solutions, including Hall effect thrusters, electrospray thrusters, and iodine fueled ion engine systems.
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