Ball Aerospace is leading an industry team that is developing, qualifying, integrating, and will be flying a demonstration mission of an ESPA-class propulsion subsystem using AF-M31SE green propellant and a BCP-100 spacecraft The project, called the Green Propellant Infusion Mission (GPIM), is in NASA's Technology Demonstration Mission (TDM) program office with Space Technology Mission Directorate's (STMD) programmatic and technology oversight being provided by NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC). This paper provides an overview and status of the GPIM program including the advances in the propulsion system development, plus the expected increase in safety and performance, at a lower cost compared to the traditional propulsion. We also provide an overview of several secondary payloads being matured by Ball and its partners. Currently the GPIM space vehicle is completed, including the integration of the GPPS and SERB payloads with launch slated for September 2016 aboard Space-X's Falcon 2 Heavy for the Air Force's STP-2 mission. At the completion of a 60 days on-orbit demonstration, sufficient data will be developed to allow for infusion of AF-M315E as a hydrazine replacement for spacecraft attitude control and primary propulsion. A successful demonstration will bring this technology to TRL 9. Subsequent infusion of this green propellant based thrusters are expected to result in lower cost, increased safety and higher performance as compare to thrusters of this class currently used by the spacecraft industry.
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