TSAT propulsion test a success

SUNNYVALE, Calif., July 24 (UPI) -- A joint Lockheed Martin-Northrop Grumman team has successfully demonstrated a new propulsion technology designed for the U.S. Air Force.

Officials from the joint Transformational Satellite Communications System Space Segment team say they have successfully demonstrated the new High Power Hall Current Thruster electric propulsion. The next-generation technology is being developed for the Air Force TSAT constellation for beyond-line-of-sight communications capabilities.

The TSAT constellation is part of an effort to enable network-centric mobile wideband communication during operations in the battlefield.

"We are extremely pleased with the performance of our next-generation TSAT thruster system," Mark Pasquale, Lockheed Martin TSAT vice president, said in a statement.

"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."