NASA on Monday opened a prize contest for U.S. companies to build mid-power Hall effect thruster prototypes, saying the systems are needed for satellite, defense, and exploration missions¹.

The Advanced Mid-Power Electric Rocket Challenge, or AMPERE, targets Hall effect thruster systems in the 3-7 kilowatt range¹. NASA said government and industry stakeholders have identified that class of electric propulsion as a critical capability¹.

Hall effect thrusters use electricity and inert gas to produce thrust¹. A NASA page accompanying the announcement showed a thruster under test at Glenn Research Center¹.

The agency said it wants to speed maturation of electric propulsion, validate real-world performance in NASA test facilities, and lay groundwork for future NASA and commercial missions¹.

The contest is open to companies incorporated in the United States that maintain a primary place of business there¹. NASA framed the work as a commercial prototype effort rather than an in-house development program¹.

NASA listed $500,000 in total prizes¹. Up to two winning teams can each receive up to $250,000 in cash, plus access to NASA testing and technology, across three phases¹.

Registration opened Nov. 9, 2026, and closes Jan. 27, 2027¹. NASA directed teams to ampere.nasatechmaturation.org for registration, rules, and eligibility¹.

The announcement did not name judges, list phase deadlines beyond registration, or say how many teams NASA expects¹. It also did not specify which NASA facilities would host the tests¹.

Sources

1. NASANASA Advanced Mid-Power Electric Rocket Challenge12:42 PM

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