Moog to supply its MONARC-22 engines for TAS spacecraft programs

Photo by Moog Unna GmbH

Moog Inc. Space and Defense was recently selected to provide MONARC 22 thruster engines for two Thales Alenia Space (TAS) spacecraft programs; ExoMars 2020 (an ESA program) with Thales Alenia Space UK and SWOT (a joint CNES/NASA/JPL program) with Thales Alenia Space France. Moog has been a trusted propulsion component supplier to TAS for over 15 years. However, this is the first time TAS has ordered the MONARC-22 engines. ExoMars 2020 is a European Space Agency space robotics mission to Mars and SWOT is a NASA/CNES/JPL satellite mission to study ocean and terrestrial surface waters.

“Moog is honored to be the chosen supplier for both of these high profile programs.” states Paul King, Product Line Manager for Moog’s Spacecraft Controls propulsion products. “The 27 engines being produced to cover the needs for both programs will be delivered to TAS over the next 12-months.”

The MONARC 22 engine is a hydrazine monopropellant thruster designed specifically for spacecraft use. These engines have been used on a variety of missions including geosynchronous and space exploration applications. For ExoMars 2020 the engines will be part of the carrier module reaction control system and will be used to carry out all mission impulsive maneuvers, attitude acquisitions and trajectory maintenance as requested by the on board computer during the Earth to Mars transit. For the SWOT mission, the engines will be used for spacecraft attitude and orbit control maneuvers while in orbit around the Earth and for controlled reentry maneuvers at end of mission.

The engines will be built and tested at the Moog facility in Niagara Falls, NY. The flow control valves will be manufactured by Moog’s facility in East Aurora, NY. Moog will also produce other propulsion and motion controls and avionics for these spacecraft at various facilities in the United States.

For more information, please visit http://www.moog.com.

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