Boeing has begun work on a four-month, $600,000 (£390,000) NASA contract to develop a mission concept study for solar electric propulsion technologies.

Boeing’s Phantom Works Advanced Space Exploration division will be evaluating concepts that combine high-power solar arrays with advanced electric thrusters. Such a propulsion system could be used to manoeuvre satellites in Earth orbit and to power deep-space manned and robotic missions.

The aerospace giant is one of five contractors selected by NASA to develop a mission concept to demonstrate solar electric propulsion as a means to sustain a human presence in space.