The Bradford ECAPS's 5N HPGP Thruster is designed for attitude, trajectory and orbit control of small and medium satellites, providing higher thrust when and where it is needed.

  • Non-toxic propellant makes for easier and less costly integration on secondary or ‘piggy-back’ missions.
  • Propellant loading is simple, fast and avoids the cost associated with loading hydrazine. Allows the operator to spend less time on ground operations and more time on space operations.
  • ‘Fuel at the factory’ – be ready for launch vehicle integration upon arrival at the launch pad.
  • Non-toxic propellant makes payload adaptor rings suitable for a new class of small satellite launchers, where handling hazardous hydrazine may impede operations or where fully equipped hydrazine processing facilities may be non-existent.
  • Higher performance over hydrazine allows for more payload or longer mission durations.
  • Allows for more secondary or ‘piggy-back’ launch opportunities, especially missions where there is concern about the hazards of hydrazine and its risks to the primary payload.
  • Allows for more capable missions than spacecraft without propulsion.
  • Allows for more agile mission profiles than electric propulsion. Spacecraft take significantly less time to execute maneuvers and orbit changes.

The 5N HPGP thruster is currently undergoing a test fire campaign with the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, characterizing the performance of the thruster. The 5N HPGP is being examined for potential use for an interplanetary mission, where it will provide a key maneuver and orbit-insertion capability.

Specifications Table

Thruster Type HPGP
Propellant LMP-103S
Thrust Class 5 N
Primary Operational Mode RCS + Δ ∨
Inlet Pressure Range 5.5 - 24 Bar
Thrust Range 1.5 - 5.5 N
Nozzle Expansion Ratio 150:1
Steady State ISP (vacuum) Typical 2345 - 2480 Ns/Kg
(239 -253 s)
Density Impulse (vacuum) 2908 - 3075 Ns/L
Minimum Impulse Bit ≤0.1 Ns
Overall Length 221 mm
Mass 0.48 kg
FCV Type Solenoid
- No of Seats Dual Seat
- Pull-in Voltage 28 ± 4 VDC
- Holding Voltage 10 ± 1 VCD
- Coil Resistance (each coil) 72 Ω
Nominal Reactor Pre-heating Voltage 28 VDC
Regulated Reactor Ore-heating Power 15 - 25 W TBC
Target Life - Qual. Level  
Pulses 50,000
Propellant Throughput 100 kg
Longest Continues Firing 10 minutes
Accumulated Firing Time 20 hours
Firing Sequences 350
Demonstrated Life  
Pulses 10,000
Propellant Throughput 5 kg
Longest Continues Firing Time 60 seconds
Accumulated Firing Time 1 hour
Firing Sequences 115
Maturation Level TRL 5
Current Status  
  EQM in Manufacturing