[Satellite Today – 6-27-08] The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) awarded Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne a contract for the fabrication and ground test of a solar thermal propulsion rocket engine, the company announced June 26.
    This $2.2 million contract extends the High Delta-V Experiment Program six months and follows a critical design review conducted in March.
    The Solar Thermal Propulsion engine encompasses technology that allows it to use less fuel by harnessing the sun’s energy. This gives the satellite greater ability to maneuver in space and conduct longer missions by extending the use of its fuel.
    In May, DARPA awarded SpaceDev a $3.8 million contract extension to develop solar thermal propulsion and the bus design for the High Delta-V program, which is intended to develop a space-qualified, low-cost, modular solar thermal propulsion system combined into a satellite.