NASA Offers Prize Money to Companies Building Next-Gen Space Engines

NASA has launched a new competition, the Advanced Mid-Power Electric Rocket (AMPERE) Challenge, inviting U.S. commercial companies to develop and demonstrate mid-power Hall effect thruster prototypes. A Hall effect thruster is an electric propulsion system that uses electricity and an inert gas to create thrust, offering high efficiency for spacecraft. NASA and industry stakeholders have identified these 3-7 kilowatt systems as critical for future satellite, defense, and exploration missions.

The challenge offers a total prize purse of $500,000, with up to two winning teams each receiving up to $250,000 plus access to NASA testing facilities and expertise. The goal is to accelerate the development of electric propulsion technology, validate performance in real-world conditions, and build a foundation for both NASA and commercial space missions. This initiative aims to foster innovation that will power the next generation of satellites and deep-space probes.