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“Neutron Star Systems core focus is the application of high-temperature superconductor (HTS) technology to Electric Propulsion (EP) solutions. Our primary product is the SUPREME thruster; an Applied-Field Magnetoplasmadynamic (AF-MPD) thruster incorporating HTS coils as a key enabling technology.
AF-MPD thrusters are a type of electric propulsion for spacecraft. All current spacecraft propulsion systems operate by expelling a reaction mass, which generates an opposing thrust force according to Newton’s 3rd Law of motion. There are two primary types of spacecraft propulsion: Chemical Propulsion, and Electric Propulsion. Unlike chemical systems, EP uses electrical energy to produce thrust, rather than the chemical energy stored in the fuel. As such, electric propulsion systems are only limited by the amount of power available, rather than the limited amount of energy contained in a unit amount of propellant. In other words, they are able to utilise fuel much more efficiently than chemical systems, resulting in lighter spacecraft and reduced costs.
Applications
The characteristics of the SUPREME thruster are best suited to missions with heavy payloads which require fast transfers using a highly efficient systems. Some examples of such missions:
Near-Earth:
• Drag compensation of large structures (e.g. ISS)
• Multi-use space vehicles for satellite servicing, satellite orbit raising, refuelling and debris removal.
• Space Tourism
• Space Manufacturing
Lunar:
• Lunar Gateway Logistics
• Lunar Cargo Missions
• Lunar Space Tug
Beyond Earth:
• Mars Cargo Missions
• Mars Space Tug
• Mars Gateway Logistics
• Asteroid Mining
• Human Exploration”
Key links
Marcus Collier-Wright
Manuel La Rosa Betancourt
http://www.neutronstarsystems.com/