HOUGHTON, Mich.—A new research center at Michigan Technological University will work to develop thruster systems for satellites.
The Houghton school is getting $1 million in funding for five years for the Michigan/Air Force Center of Excellence in Electric Propulsion.
The center also involves the universities of Michigan, Washington and California-Los Angeles; and Penn State and Colorado State universities.
Associate professor Brad King will oversee work on plasma space propulsion systems. The thrusters are used to maintain an orbit or move satellites from one orbit to another.
Michigan Tech says 250 of the 3,000 space craft in orbit now use some type of plasma thruster.
———
Online:
Satellite propulsion research details:
