TRW HAS completed 90,000s qualification testing of the first dual-mode rocket engine developed for spacecraft. The Secondary Combuster Augmented Thruster (SCAT), which has a thrust range of 2.2kg (5lb) to 6.8kg, can be operated in either hydrazine-monopropellant or hydrazine/nitrogen-tetroxide-bipropellant mode, performing limited station-keeping and attitude control, or orbit insertion and major in-orbit manoeuvres in the two modes, respectively. The SCAT's fuel efficiency could increase a satellite's operational life from seven to ten years, according to the US industrial conglomerate. More than 700 tests of the SCAT ranged from 1s to 6,000s in duration, reaching a maximum thrust of 5.4kg.
Source: Flight International