NASA建议用于卫星上面级的太阳能热推进系统的发动机硬件样机的初步试验安排在今秋进行。NASA马歇尔空间飞行中心的项目经理LeslieCurtis说,NASA正在调研太阳能热推进技术以便降低空间飞行器的重量、复杂性,并最终降低成本。这种新的上面级的性能可达现行传统上面级的2倍,预计到2006年用于全尺寸试验的增强型样 NASA’s preliminary test schedule for a prototype engine hardware for a solar thermal propulsion system at the top of the satellite is scheduled to take place this fall. Leslie Curtis, project manager at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, said NASA is investigating solar thermal propulsion technology to reduce the weight, complexity and ultimately cost of spacecraft. This new top-level performance up to 2 times the current conventional top level, is expected to 2006 enhanced model for full-scale test