Monopropoellant Thrusters

Northrop Grumman has developed, qualified and flown nearly 1,000 monopropellant thrusters, gas generators and gas thrusters, ranging from 30 millipounds to 8 lbf. We have also developed and tested 15-pound class and larger monopropellant thrusters. In all cases, Northrop Grumman thrusters have exceeded design goals and outlived the useful spacecraft lives on a wide range of myriad of programs, including Pioneer 10 and 11, DSP, TDRS, FSC, Chandra X-ray Observatory, SOHO, EOS, TOMS, STEP, ROCSAT, KOMPSAT, and HEAO.

Northrop Grumman's MRE-1 thruster earned the distinction of being named the "NASA Standard 5-Newton Thruster" after successfully completing a rigorous test program and flight demonstration. In 1983 the MRE-1 saved the TDRS-1 mission by delivering the delta-velocity needed to boost the 4,500-pound satellite over 8,000 miles to geosynchronous orbit. In 1998 the MRE-1 was used to assist NASA and ESA in successfully recovering the SOHO spacecraft after a deep freeze/thaw anomaly.  

MRE-0.0 (Gas Generator) Width x Length: Weight (STM/DTM): Maximum Throughput 13 x 65 mm 1.6 kg/- 27 kg MRE-0.1 Thrust @ Maximum Operating Pressure: Steady-State Impulse @ 275 psia inlet Pressure: Width x Length: Weight (STM/DTM) Maximum Throughput 1.0 N @ 350 psia 216 sec 114 x 175 mm  0.5/0.9 kg 34 kg MRE-1.0 Thrust @ Maximum Operating Pressure: Steady-State Impulse @ 275 psia inlet Pressure: Width x Length: Weight (STM/DTM) Maximum Throughput 5.0 N @ 400 psia 218 sec 114 x 188 05/1.0 kg 544 kg MRE-4.0 Thrust @ Maximum Operating Pressure: Steady-State Impulse @ 275 psia inlet Pressure: Width x Length: Weight (STM/DTM) Maximum Throughput 18 N @ 600 psia 217 sec 61 x 206 mm 0.5 kg /- 249 kg MRE-5.0 Thrust @ Maximum Operating Pressure: Steady-State Impulse @ 275 psia inlet Pressure: Width x Length: Weight (STM/DTM) Maximum Throughput 36 N @ 400 psia 232 sec 145 x 264 mm -/1.5 kg 456 kg MRE-15 Thrust @ Maximum Operating Pressure: Steady-State Impulse @ 275 psia inlet Pressure: Width x Length: Weight (STM/DTM) Maximum Throughput 86 N @ 400 psia 228 sec 119 x 318 mm 1.1 kg/- 970 kg

For further information contact:

Frank Balmanno
E-mail: frank.balmanno@ngc.com