NASA Seeking: Domestic Power Processing Units (PPUs) and Propellant Feed Systems (PFSs) for Mid-Power Hall Effect Thrusters

Overview:

NASA is seeking domestic suppliers of Power Processing Units (PPUs) and Propellant Feed Systems (PFSs) that support mid-power (3-7 kW) Hall-effect thruster (HET) propulsion systems.

Background:

Mid-power Hall-effect thruster systems have been identified by commercial and government stakeholders as a critical capability for commercial satellite operations, defense applications, and NASA science and exploration missions. A complete HET propulsion system requires three elements: the thruster itself, a Power Processing Unit (PPU) that conditions and supplies spacecraft power to the other propulsion system elements, and a Propellant Feed System (PFS) that regulates and delivers propellant (typically xenon or krypton) to the thruster.

NASA is seeking to understand the domestic landscape for mid-power PPUs and PFSs, including available providers, capability gaps, pain points, and technology/manufacturing readiness levels.

Constraints:

• Solutions must be provided by a domestic (U.S.) supplier
• Power Processing Unit (PPU) must be compatible with mid-power (3-7 kW) Hall effect thrusters
• Propellant Feed System (PFS) must regulate and deliver xenon or krypton propellant at flow rates suitable for mid-power HET operation
• Thruster-agnostic designs that enable common flight software and reduce integration burden are strongly preferred
• Solutions must meet the mass, volume, power, and reliability constraints typical of commercial, defense, or NASA science/exploration spaceflight missions
• Mature technology and manufacturing readiness level (TRL/MRL), production capacity, and flight heritage are ideal
• Any ITAR or other export-control classification should be identified

Possible Solution Areas:

• Power Processing Units (PPUs), including discharge, magnet, keeper/ignitor, and heater power supplies and system control/housekeeping boards
• Propellant Feed Systems (PFSs) and associated components, including propellant flow control systems, valves, regulators, and propellant tanks
• Integrated or modular PPU/PFS architectures supporting multiple thruster types or standardized/common interfaces
• Technologies adapted from adjacent industries (e.g., defense radar / EW power supplies, terrestrial power distribution, industrial gas handling, semiconductor flow control) with potential application to space-based PPU/PFS systems

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