Green Propellant Infusion Mission

Green Propellant Infusion Mission (GPIM)
Artist's rendering of GPIM on Earth orbit
Mission typeTechnology demonstrator
OperatorNASA
COSPAR ID2019-036D Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.44342
Websitewww.ball.com/aerospace/programs/gpim
Mission durationPlanned: 14 months[1]
Final: 1 year, 3 months, 19 days
Spacecraft properties
BusBCP-100
ManufacturerBall Aerospace
Dry mass158 kg (348 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date25 June 2019, 06:30 UTC[2]
RocketFalcon Heavy
Launch siteKennedy Space Center, LC-39A
ContractorSpaceX
End of mission
DisposalDeorbited
Decay date14 October 2020[3]
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit
RegimeLow Earth orbit
Perigee altitude710 km (440 mi)
Apogee altitude724 km (450 mi)
Inclination24.0°

The Green Propellant Infusion Mission (GPIM) was a NASA technology demonstrator project that tested a less toxic and higher performance/efficiency chemical propellant for next-generation launch vehicles and CubeSat spacecraft.[4][5][6] When compared to the present high-thrust and high-performance industry standard for orbital maneuvering systems, which for decades, have exclusively been reliant upon toxic hydrazine based propellant formulations, the "greener" hydroxylammonium nitrate (HAN) monopropellant offers many advantages for future satellites, including longer mission durations, additional maneuverability, increased payload space and simplified launch processing.[4][5][7] The GPIM was managed by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, and was part of NASA's Technology Demonstration Mission Program within the Space Technology Mission Directorate.

The Green Propellant Infusion Mission launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket on 25 June 2019, on a test mission called Space Test Program 2 (STP-2).[8] The cost of the program was projected to be US$45 million.[9]

  1. ^ "NASA Technology Missions Launch on SpaceX Falcon Heavy" (Press release). NASA. 25 June 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2019. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ Bartels, Megan (25 June 2019). "SpaceX Falcon Heavy Rocket Lofts 24 Satellites in 1st Night Launch". Space.com. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  3. ^ "GPIM". N2YO.com. 14 October 2020. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  4. ^ a b "The Green Propellant Infusion Mission (GPIM)" (PDF). Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. March 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  5. ^ a b "About Green Propellant Infusion Mission (GPIM)". NASA. 2014. Archived from the original on 10 December 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2014. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  6. ^ "Green Propellant Infusion Mission (GPIM)". Ball Aerospace. 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  7. ^ "Green Propellant Infusion Mission Project" (PDF). NASA. July 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 June 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2014. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  8. ^ Clark, Stephen (7 September 2018). "Air Force releases new target dates for upcoming military launches". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  9. ^ Casey, Tina (19 July 2013). "NASA Sets Its Sights On $45 Million Green Fuel Mission". Clean Technica. Retrieved 27 February 2014.