NASA awards propulsion technology grant

NASA's science mission directorate announced Tuesday the awarding of a grant to develop advanced propulsions technologies for use beyond Earth orbit.

The grant, with a maximum potential of $600,000, was awarded the Aerojet Redmond Rocket Center, in Redmond, Wash.

NASA said the purpose of the research is to enable or reduce trip times, mass, and/or cost associated with science missions to the outer planets, satellites, and other solar system destinations.

The research also supports the Vision for Space Exploration project, NASA's long-term plan to return astronauts to the moon and extend exploration to Mars and beyond into the solar system.

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