Spaceflight A British Interplanetary Society Publication Spacefest 7

60th Anniversary Special! Vol 58 No 10 October 2016 £4.50

www.bis-space.com

361.indd 361 8/18/2016 10:05:41 AM UK Thor sites inbox

362 Spaceflight Vol 58 March 2016

362.indd 362 8/18/2016 10:05:54 AM contents

Editor: Published by the British Interplanetary Society David Baker, PhD, BSc, FBIS, FRHS Sub-editor: Volume 58 No. 10 October 2016 Ann Page 372-375 Controlling Exposure to Deadly Martian Microbes Production Assistant: People are dead set on going to Mars. Dr John Cain provides the last of Ben Jones his two articles examining the risks inherent in deep-space exploration Spaceflight Promotion: with an examination of the possible dangers from working on the Gillian Norman surface of the Red Planet. Can extremophiles from other worlds threaten Spaceflight human life – all of it? Arthur C. Clarke House, 27/29 South Lambeth Road, 386-388 Spacefest 7 London, SW8 1SZ, England. Chris Starr attended the seventh Spacefest event this year at Tucson, Tel: +44 (0)20 7735 3160 Arizona, 9-12 June and reflects on a gathering of all the “greats” in the Fax: +44 (0)20 7582 7167 world of space together with astronauts, historians, artists and writers of Email: [email protected] science fact and science fiction. www.bis-space.com ADVERTISING Spaceflight at 60 Special! Tel: +44 (0)1424 883401 Email: [email protected] 376 Introduction DISTRIBUTION Spaceflight may be received worldwide by mail through membership of the British 377-379 Roots of Ownership – the origins of the BIS and the Interplanetary Society. Details including Library Journal subscriptions are available from the above address. 379-383 Spaceflight Rising – the story of the magazine’s * * * history Spaceflight is obtainable from UK newsagents and other retail outlets in many countries. In the event of difficulty contact: Warners 384 Spaceflight and me – David Hardy on what Spaceflight Group Distribution, The Maltings, Manor Lane, meant to him Bourne, Lincolnshire PE10 9PH, England. Tel: +44 (0)1778 391 000 Fax: +44 (0)1778 393 668 385 Memories – Clive Simpson on his association with the BIS * * * and Spaceflight Spaceflight is a publication which promotes the mission of The British Interplanetary Society. Opinions in signed articles are those of the contributors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editor or the Council of the British Interplanetary Society. Regular Features * * * 364-366 News Analysis – Space action at Farnborough Back issues of Spaceflight are available from the Society. For details of issues and prices go 366 A Letter from the Editor to www.bis-space.com or send an sae to the address at top. 367 Briefing notes – news shorts from around the world * * * Published monthly by the British Interplanetary 368-371 ISS Report – 16 July-15 August 2016 Society. Registered Company No: 402498. Registered Charity No: 250556. Printed in the UK by Latimer Trend & Company Ltd. 389 Flashback – A regular feature looking back 50 years ago this month * * * 390-391 Satellite Digest – 525 July 2016 Copyright © British Interplanetary Society 2016 ISSN 0038-6340. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced 392-397 Society News – The BIS Space Conference - A Labour of Love - The or transmitted in any form or by any means, Society’s 71st AGM - Removing Debris - The Sokol Spacesuit electronic or mechanical, including photo- copying or recording by any information storage or retrieval system without written permission 398 What’s On from the Publishers. Photocopying permitted by license only. Cover image: Engineers check out the hatch on NASA’s Orion spacecraft but space suits will be little * * * protection to the body if microbial contamination infects the crew (see pages 372-275). NASA The British Interplanetary Society is a company limited by guarantee. Opposite: Inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, five levels of work platforms for NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket are in view in High Bay 3. The second Mission half of the F-level work platforms, F north, is in view above the other four levels. The F platforms were The British Interplanetary Society promotes the installed on the north and south sides of the high bay, about 58.5 m above the floor. Installation of the exploration and use of space for the benefit of humanity, by connecting people to create, F platforms marks the midpoint of platform installation. The F platforms are the fifth of 10 levels of work educate and inspire, and advance knowledge in platforms that will surround and provide access to the SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft for Exploration all aspects of astronautics. Mission 1 planned for launch two years from now. NASA/Michelle Stone

Spaceflight Vol 58 October 2016 363

363.indd 363 8/18/2016 10:06:12 AM news analysis Space action at Farnborough

By Nick Spall

Adjacent to a visiting delegation from Italy, the UK Space Agency was a reassuring presence at the 2016 Farnborough International Air Show. Nick Spall

he Farnborough International Air Show will be maintained via present contracts. A key time of change for the UK’s space sector, with in July was the first to occur after the question is whether the post Brexit access to current EU-led space research funds needing UK’s “Brexit” vote to leave the European new markets like China and India will actually alternative replacement UK source funding TUnion, but there seemed little holding back enhance the UK’s space satellite manufacturing for the future via the new administration led the business and trade success of the 5-day industry for companies like Astrium, SSTL and by Theresa May. Early signs referred to at the show, much of which included space related ClydeSpace. FIA are that the government appreciates the activity. The dramatic first arrival of the The next few years will be an interesting need for consistent UK excellence with space Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning STOVL related research and activity. ESA membership supersonic “stealth” jet for the UK certainly Presently rising high on a steady but sure for the UK will apparently continue as normal. added to the sense of excitement for both trajectory, the fortunes of Reaction Engines Ltd trade and enthusiast visitors. Over $124bn of may rest on continued support from the British Tim Peake at the FIA government, from ESA and from US interests. international aerospace orders and options Less than a month after he returned from Nick Spall were made at the show. his outstanding 185 day “Principia“ mission In space interest terms, many companies aboard the ISS as part of Expedition 46/47, UK noted how the commercial market for UK astronaut Tim Peake looked sprightly and fit as based satellite manufacture seemed to be he attended the “Futures Day” at the FIA. in good shape – the UK currently employs Tim held a press conference together with 34,000 people, with a value of £11.3bn and an Greg Clark, Secretary of State for Business, annual growth of 7.5%. It is hoped that this will Energy and Industrial Strategy, Jan Woerner, increase to £40bn by 2030 with a 10% annual Director General of ESA, David Parker, Head growth rate. Worldwide, the space industry of ESA’s Exploration and Human Spaceflight employs 900,000 people, with an annual value and Katherine Courtney, Interim CEO of the of £400bn. UK Space Agency. Tim answered questions from a large crowd Brexit issues of UK students, with up to 7,000 being involved Will the UK be able to sustain its current in the event for STEM outreach activity. He commercial space success outside the EU spoke of his amazing experiences aboard for the future? The currently cheaper pound the ISS, including the feelings of travelling sterling may make the UK’s space hardware at Mach 25, conducting the first EVA for a and software more attractive abroad and ESA British astronaut, docking the Dragon resupply orders for projects like Galileo and Copernicus freighter, the view from orbit 400 km above

364 Spaceflight Vol 58 October 2016

364-366.indd 364 8/18/2016 10:06:25 AM news analysis

Earth, the exciting Soyuz re-entry and the shown off. The latter is the key engine element physiological changes that he experienced for cooling very hot airstreams from over 1,000º over the last six months in zero-g and the C to -50º C in 1/100th second, while preventing effects still to come. the formation of ice at sub-zero temperatures. Tim believed that it will be another six At the FIA, RE announced the formation months before he fully regains his previous of a new US-based subsidiary, “Reaction strength, muscle mass and bone density. His Engines Inc.”, the purpose being to expand eyesight condition related to increased intra- the company’s development efforts and lead ocular pressure effects is still being assessed. engagement with potential US government Tim is due to spend time in the USA now and industry partners. as part of his ESA duties, post his flight In 2013 RE received a UK government return recovery. It will be interesting to see if “commitment” to £60m support for future he does get an early future flight-slot on the design, manufacture and testing of the SABRE ISS, particularly as he enthusiastically said he engine. This will hopefully come through in full would return without any hesitation. Whether and enable a demonstrator vehicle to fly an he does or not will be dependent on the UK’s engine for air tests in the foreseeable future. commitment to ESA’s human spaceflight Also, of course, in 2015 BAE Sytems programme, ELIPS research membership, ISS announced a £20.6 million investment in support and possible future involvement with RE to acquire 20% of its share capital, plus A critical element within the SABRE engine is the NASA’s Orion spacecraft deep-space mission management and technology expertise innovative heat exchanger, key to a propulsion plans, all of which will be decided at the 2016 support for future growth. RE look to be well dream which has evaded other design teams for ESA Ministerial meeting. 50 years. Nick Spall established for pushing SABRE forward for expanded engine assembly and testing. It will Orion on display skills and manufacturing for one Orion vehicle be interesting to see what the 2018 FIA news At the FIA there were at least two models of the at present, future involvement may allow for brings from the company. four-seat Lockheed Martin Orion spacecraft on further spacecraft and an ESA astronaut crew display. ESA is providing the service module member seat on a deep space mission. Exomars for this and the joint NASA/ESA logo was Prominent at the Italian Space Agency’s exciting to see. Skylon soars Farnborough stand was the display for the ESA’s DG, Jan Woerner, has of course The UK based Reaction Engines company two-stage Exomars project. This will provide always promoted an international Moon-base mounted an impressive stand with a cut-away for the current 2016 mission that includes as part of the “road-map” of the journey to model of its air-breathing SABRE engine the Trace Gas Orbiter and the Schiaparelli Mars – incapable alone for conducting a Mars that hopefully will one day power the 300 Entry, Descent and Landing (EDM) module. mission, the Orion vehicle would allow for this tonne Skylon spaceplane at Mach 25, or a In 2020 this will be followed by the launch of return to the Moon. very high altitude A4 vehicle variant at Mach the Exomars rover with its core sample drilling While ESA is only committed to applying 5 for intercontinental travel. Also, an ultra- ability and a Russian surface platform, with a its established ATV-derived Service Module lightweight pre-cooler heat exchange unit was German-led lander module. The UK is leading the Exomars rover Spaceplanes and UK spaceport bids were definitely a familiar sight at Farnborough, with several development, with the test demonstrator competing sites vying for commercial patronage. Nick Spall “Bridget” on display at the Show, having been tele-operated in 2016 remotely at its Stevenage home by Tim Peake while he was on the ISS. Italy leads the overall project, with Thales Alenia having the major manufacturing share.

Lunar drilling ESA signed a contract at the Farnborough Show to build a new lunar drill and laboratory known as Prospect. This will form the central element of a Russian led mission to the Moon known as Luna-Resurs, due to fly in 2021. The Prospect drill agreement is for £6m from ESA for the Italian Leonardo- Finmeccanica company, due to be boosted via further funding, expected to be agreed at the Lausanne Ministerial for ESA member states in December. Russia’s plan for prospecting for water is to focus on the Aitken Basin at the lunar South Pole – water is an obvious material to

Spaceflight Vol 58 October 2016 365

364-366.indd 365 8/18/2016 10:06:26 AM news analysis

promoted the concept of a UK “spaceport”, linked to sub-orbital space tourism, satellite launches from carrier aircraft and possible future spaceplane operations. Six sites were selected for close study and each can now make its case for future private-led investment. Prestwick, near Glasgow in Scotland, put forward a stand to promote its case, announcing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with XCOR the US based Lynx spaceplane development company. Cornwall’s “Aerohub” concept was also on display at two Show stands, one to promote Newquay airport with its 2.744 km runway as the first UK spaceport and another to promote the Goonhilly Earth station. The latter is seeking a new role after its 50 year operational lifetime – one agreement signed at the Show was a partnership with the SSTL UK satellite company (part of ADS now) for Goonhilly to be used to help control future commercial and government lunar mission probes that the The European Space Agency continues its participation in US human space flight programmes with a deal to build the Service Module for the Orion spacecraft. company hopes to be involved with. The birthplace of UK-led aviation development, hunt for with the deep drill. ESA’s Director of ESA commitment as the project progresses. Farnborough is now certainly establishing a lead Human Spaceflight and Robotic Exploration, in being at the centre of government and industry David Parker, enthusiastically led the signing UK spaceport space-related involvement with the international ceremony at the event and hoped for future full In recent years the UK Space Agency has space-faring community.

his month we celebrate the 60th steps myself in writing the story of Spaceflight, underpins objective analysis. anniversary of Spaceflight magazine, how it began and the milestones in making it While Spaceflight must look forward and launched with the October 1956 issue, today the longest running space magazine on project the aspirations and ideas which will Tone calendar year before the start of the the market. Others have come and gone but power the Space Age for the next 60 years, its Space Age. We have been here from the very Spaceflight remains and in subscribing to it archival record of those early years provides beginning and chronicled every achievement readers are connected to an unprecedented a unique contribution to history and to space in space exploration since Sputnik 1 became history of humankind’s most ambitious literature in general. the world’s first artificial satellite on 4 October adventure. The library at the Society’s headquarters 1957. My own participation began with an article provides a depository of historical material, Looking back over those six decades many on the Apollo Service Propulsion System much of it unique, with bound volumes of fond memories and extraordinary moments published in the August 1969 issue and Spaceflight going back to the very first issue. come to mind. It seemed that everywhere thus began what developed into a close With appropriate notification, it is available to I went in the world, over these last several professional relationship with Ken Gatland. all members. The Library Committee is to be decades, space people knew about the Spaceflight’s Editor for 22 years, Ken was applauded for the work it has done to bring British Interplanetary Society and Spaceflight the first of a new breed of writers who, with this up to date. But, like the magazine itself, magazine. Very quickly, not least because of an engineering and project background, was this is a work in progress and the preservation the dawning age of space exploration, it found drawn to write – prolifically – on space, rockets of historical material goes on. a valuable niche as the dedicated magazine and astronautics in general. His contribution It has always impressed me how wide is for a broad base of space professionals and to the Society and to the evolving fortunes of the reputation of the BIS. I recently hosted enthusiasts alike. Spaceflight are legendary. Personally, I owe a NASA project engineer/manager from the Many who later became involved in the him a very great deal. Johnson Space Center, who made a special space programme itself were inspired by the But a magazine like ours is only as good as trip just to ferret around in the Library. A Society and its publications. And Spaceflight the contributions we receive and while a very bibliophile himself, he was in awe at the wide was always there, pointing toward the future considerable amount of material is written in- range of materials, including much material while reflecting on early steps taken to move house, its beacon features come from specialists that alluded to the life of Arthur C. Clarke. humankind to the stars. And it was that and experts in distinctive fields of astronautics. So there you have it, the first 60 years. It has universality of appeal from which it gathered Many professional organisations, space been a real honour, and not a little humbling, strength. agencies and research institutes too contribute to have had the opportunity to record those It has been a very real pleasure – indeed, a in other ways, by allowing open access wherever years, laid out on pages 376-385. I hope you nostalgic self-indulgence – to re-tread those possible giving the kind of cooperation which enjoy the ride!

366 Spaceflight Vol 58 October 2016

364-366.indd 366 8/18/2016 10:06:26 AM news

2014 a precursor Orion test vehicle flew Briefing notes a highly elliptical trajectory (Exploration • Neither of the two US Presidential Flight Test-1) which revealed several candidates are saying much about space technical issues, not least concerns but the US analytical company Govini is about the ablative aft heat shield and the advising that NASA is at the dawn of a boom ceramic forward tile shield. NASA plans time in government and congressional to fly EM-1 on the first SLS as a 27-day support for a steadily expanding budget. mission to a retrograde orbit of the Moon Space is now universally supported with apolune of 70,000 km on the far side. across the political spectrum and among EM-2 is planned as a 10-14 day four- the American population at large, they person flight no later than August 2023. say. Moreover, says Govini, the kind of The GAO has found significant technical technologies coming out of the agency into challenges to meeting these goals and the everyday work world are supporting that it is facing “cost overruns of $0.7 NASA’s Orion programme has been dissected by the Government Accountability Office which the Third Offset programme integrating billion with work costing more than found concerns. NASA man-machine technology and autonomous expected and not being accomplished as capabilities. NASA’s budget is expected to scheduled.” Moreover, it finds that “Orion’s emerged with the Orbital Maneuvering rise faster than the economy for the next prime contractor has underperformed System (OMS) engines for the European- several years. over the past two years.” built Service Module. Adopted from the Shuttle Orbiter OMS, each hypergolic • In development now for more than 10 • Work is proceeding on Sierra Nevada engine has a thrust of 26.7 kN (compared years, the Orion spacecraft has recently Corporation’s atmospheric test replica with 91.2 kN for the Apollo Service been assessed by the Government of the definitive Dream Chaser lifting Propulsion System) and will perform Accountability Office (GAO). Beginning in body-shaped ISS cargo delivery vehicle. propulsive translation manoeuvres July 2006, Orion was designed for launch NASA has awarded SNC a contract to fly during flight. An incompatibility between by Ares I to carry four people to the ISS a minimum of six cargo delivery missions the thermal environment of the Orion and to the Moon. After President Obama over a five-year period beginning in 2020. spacecraft and the Shuttle Orbiter is driving sought to cancel Orion, in February 2012 While unsuccessful in getting a contract to concerns which could result in delays if Congress reinstated the programme for fly crew to the ISS, SNC is pressing ahead further tests are required. deep-space exploration using the Space with worldwide marketing of a crew-carrying

Launch System. Partly to save money, version of Dream Chaser. Ground tests and • NASA is working hard to find efficient NASA signed an agreement in December drop tests are expected to provide realistic ways of sending spacecraft to Mars 2012 whereby the European Space data for engineering analysis. and has awarded four-month concept Agency would produce the Orion Service evaluation studies to support its plan to fly Module for Exploration Mission 1 (EM-1), • Threats to the flight schedule for the first an electric spacecraft to the Red Planet scheduled for late 2018. In December Orion deep-space flight (EM-1) have in 2022 or thereafter. Boeing, Lockheed An Orbital Maneuvering System engine is tested at NASA’s Johnson Space Center before shipping to Martin, Northrop, Grumman, Orbital ATK White Sands Test Facility, New Mexico, where it will be qualified for flight on the Orion Service Module. and Space Systems/Loral will examine A second motor delivered to the European Space Agency will be integrated into the first flight-rated configurations for a large Mars orbiter Service Module. NASA utilising solar electric propulsion.

• Talks are under way between NASA and ESA for a barter arrangement to provide the Orion Service Module for EM-2 in addition to that already provided for the first SLS-launched flight (EM-1) but this is contingent on ESA agreeing to continue with the arrangement. In return, if agreed ESA would receive additional crew positions at the ISS, an arrangement which, at some point in the future, could result in ESA astronauts flying on NASA- generated deep-space missions. The decision about future involvement will take place at the Council of Ministers’ meeting at the end of this year. NASA estimates that the EM-2 work package is worth $200 million in direct costs, offset by bartering crew slots but that is the cost to NASA in the unlikely event ESA decides not to go beyond the Service Module for EM-1.

Spaceflight Vol 58 October 2016 367

367.indd 367 8/18/2016 10:06:39 AM space stations ISS Report 16 July – 15 August 2016

By George Spiteri

CRS-9 lifts off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station shortly after midnight on 18 July carrying the second International Docking Adapter to the ISS. SpaceX

Expedition 48 is mid-way through its second month of operations. The other fittings ring the perimeter of the adapter International Space Station (ISS) is commanded by NASA astronaut Jeff and give it an overall diameter of about 239 Williams, who is joined by flight engineers Kate Rubins, Russians Alexey cm. Spacecraft flying to the station will use Ovchinin, Oleg Skripochka and Anatoly Ivanishin and Japan’s Takuya the sensors on the IDA to track to and help Onishi. the navigation system steer the spacecraft to a safe docking without astronaut involvement. rogress MS-03/64P was launched from onto Harmony’s Earth facing port at 14:03 The adapter also represents the first on-orbit Baikonur’s Site 31 at 21:41 UTC on UTC delivering 2,257 kg of cargo, including element built to the docking measurements that 16 July (03:41 17 July local time) and the critical International Docking Adapter-2 are standardized for all the spacecraft builders Pdocked to the station’s Pirs docking port on the (IDA-2) weighing 454 kg, which will provide a across the world. Its first users are expected Earth facing side of the Russian segment at means for commercial spacecraft to dock to to be the Boeing Starliner and SpaceX Crew 00:20 UTC on 18 July as the complex flew 409 the station, and instruments to conduct the first Dragon spacecraft now in development in km above Santiago, Chile. Progress delivered ever DNA sequencing in space. partnership with NASA’s Commercial Crew nearly three tons of supplies, including 1,230 Outfittedwith a host of sensors and systems, Program. Because the adapter is designed to kg of dry cargo, 705 kg of propellant, 420 kg of the IDA-2 is built so spacecraft systems an international standard, future spacecraft will water and 50 kg of air and oxygen. can automatically perform all the steps of be able to dock there, too. Sandwiched between Progress’ launch rendezvous and dock with the station without The Russian company RSC-Energia and docking, SpaceX sent their latest Dragon input from the made the primary ‘Over Dragon unmanned vehicle atop a Falcon 9 rocket on astronauts. Manual three hours later structures of the the Commercial Resupply Services-9 (CRS-9) backup systems was berthed onto Harmony’s IDAs. The systems mission from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station will be in place on Earth facing port…’ and targets for IDA- Space launch Complex 40, Florida, at 04:45 the spacecraft to allow the crew to take over 1 were put through about a month of tests at UTC on 18 July (00:45 local time). SpaceX steering duties, if needed. Kennedy’s Space Center’s Station Processing again managed to achieve a successful “It’s a passive system which means it Facility before being loaded for launch. landing of Falcon 9’s first stage booster back doesn’t take any action by the crew to allow The targets are much more sophisticated at Cape Canaveral. docking to happen and I think that’s really the than previous docking systems and include Dragon was grappled by Canadarm2 at key,” said David Clemen Boeing’s director lasers and sensors that allow the station and 10:56 UTC on 20 July, marking the first time of Development/Modifications for the space spacecraft to talk to each other digitally to in ISS history that two cargo vehicles had station. share distance cues and enable automatic arrived in such a short space of time, 35 hours. The IDA stands about 107 cm tall and is alignment and connection. Over three hours later Dragon was berthed 160 cm in diameter on the inside. Sensors and At 18:27 UTC on 20 July, one day ahead

368 Spaceflight Vol 58 October 2016

368-371.indd 368 8/18/2016 10:06:55 AM space stations

of schedule, wearing protective goggles and to the Water Processor Assembly (WPA). self-contained, propulsive jet packs worn masks the crew opened the hatch to Dragon to Onsihi also worked inside Kibo in conjunction by crewmembers as contingencies during document its interior and later begin unloading with the slide table in the module’s airlock. EVAs. Rubins and Onishi worked with NASA’s its cargo. Williams, Rubins and Onishi initially Ivanishin measured the amount of calcium a Body Measures experiment, which assesses unpacked the fresh food items the following cosmonaut loses on long duration space flight how an astronaut’s body shape and size day and then proceeded to unload some of the and replaced a storage battery inside Zarya, change during long duration space missions. critical scientific hardware, including NASA’s whilst Ovchinin and Skripochka worked with Skripochka went through the daily check out Heart Cells experiment and set up JAXA’s the Russian Biocard experiment, which aims to of the Russian environmental and life support Mouse Epigenetics study. The former examines learn more about the electrophysiology of the systems, Ovchinin worked on an experiment how understanding heart muscle cells, or heart. which studies the changes to a person’s pain cardiomyocytes, changes in space improves Rubins set up a microscope in space for the threshold in space and Ivanishin devoted his efforts for studying disease, screening drugs first time on 27 July, this was used to observe time to more Progress cargo transfers. and conducting cell replacement therapy for the Heart Cells experiment. Onishi refilled the The crew enjoyed another light-duty future space missions. The latter involves the food and water to the habitat for the Mouse weekend 30/31 July, which involved amongst study of 12 male mice who will also return Epigenetics study and returned to the Fine other things conducting regular housekeeping aboard Dragon to examine how space travel Motor Skills experiment. Williams and Ovchinin chores and planning for the week ahead. affected them at a molecular level, such as conducted ultrasound scans as part of the Fluid Williams and Skripochka began the working changes to gene expression and epigenetic Shifts experiment, whilst Skripochka partnered week on 1 August, configuring the three tiny modification. internal satellites for a high school Rubins and Onishi devoted ‘…small self-contained, propulsive student competition that took place most of 22 July working with the jet packs worn by crewmembers as the following week. Known as Heart Cells and Mouse Epigenetics contingencies…’ NASA’s Synchronised Position Hold, experiments respectively. They also worked Ivanishin for the Russian DAN study, which Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites- with the Fine Motor Skills study, which is crucial examines the changes in the cardiovascular Zero-Robotics (SPHERES-Zero-Robotics) for interacting with touch based technologies. and respiratory systems. competition the contest used student written Williams unpacked the Polar cold storage Williams and Rubins spent 28 July inside algorithms to control the SPHERES satellites freezers from Dragon and worked with NASA’s Quest resizing the EMU suits (Nos. 3003 and to perform tasks similar to a space mission. Strata-1 experiment, which investigates the 3008 respectively) they will use for a planned Meanwhile, Rubins and Onishi used a portable properties of regolith and how it moves in 19 August EVA. The station’s commander device as part of ESA’s Airway Monitoring microgravity. Ovchinin and Ivanishin were teamed up with Ovchinin for another round of experiment to measure the amount of nitrogen also busy unpacking items from Progress 64 head and eye tests using a tonometer for the that is exhaled and diffused in the blood. and were studying cell cultures as part of the Fluid Shifts study. Skripochka devoted most The following day saw Williams and Russian Kaskad experiment, whilst Skripochka of his day to conducting maintenance inside Skripochka conduct further ultrasound scans partnered Ovchinin for the Korrektsiya bone Zvezda, whilst Ivanishin cleaned the vent for the Fluid Shifts experiment, whilst Rubins loss study. screens in Rassvet and Onishi did further work worked with the Heart Cells study and Onishi The crew enjoyed another light-duty with the Mouse habitat. focused on the Mouse Epigenetics experiment. weekend 23/24 July and apart from talking to On 29 July, Williams performed a regular All six crewmembers performed an emergency friends and family, they took time out to retrieve pre-EVA check of the Simplified Aid for EVA simulation exercise to test their responses to the NanoRacks Module 9 hardware, which Rescue (SAFER) units. These are the small various contingencies. include a collection of US student research projects. Jeff Williams monitors bowling-ball size internal SPHERES satellites during a maintenance run in the Japanese Kibo module. NASA EVA prep’ On 25 July, Williams and Rubins unloaded an EMU suit (No. 3006) delivered by Dragon and packed an older one (No. 3005) to be returned for refurbishment. Onishi assisted his commander in taking blood, saliva and urine samples for NASA’s Fluid Shifts experiment and stored them in the Minus Eighty-Degree Laboratory Freezer for ISS (MELFI). Ovchinin and Skripochka resumed unloading items from Progress, whilst Ivanishin followed Ovchinin who both worked with the Russian Pilot-T experiment, which examines how well a cosmonaut is able to perform precise tasks after a long time in space. The crew conducted further Dragon and Progress cargo transfers on 26 July, Williams assisted Rubins and Onishi with eye exams and paired up with Rubins to perform maintenance

Spaceflight Vol 58 October 2016 369

368-371.indd 369 8/18/2016 10:06:56 AM space stations

SpaceX achieves another successful soft touchdown for the spent core stage of the Falcon 9 rocket which had earlier sent a Dragon capsule on its way to the ISS. SpaceX

370 Spaceflight Vol 58 October 2016

368-371.indd 370 8/18/2016 10:06:57 AM space stations

The crew did further work with the Heart August. Williams and Rubins resumed their Pilot-T experiment, which tests the reliability Cells and Mouse Epigenetics experiments EVA preparations inside Quest by reviewing of operational tasks during extended space on 3 August. Ovchinin assisted Williams spacewalk procedures whilst Ovchinin and missions and Ovchinin installed new software inside Zvezda with the Fluid Shifts study and Skripochka conducted more Biocard studies into four laptops in Zvezda. Ivanishin teamed up with Rubins and Onishi for with the help of the Russian Chibis Lower Body The US Orbital Segment (USOS) enjoyed a medical emergency training session, which Negative Pressure (LBNP) device. a light-duty day on 11 August in honour of involved familiarising themselves with medical Williams and Rubins conducted more Japan’s Mountain Day. Skripochka collected gear and locations and chest compression EVA preparations on 9 August and all six air samples in the Russian segment to check techniques while they practiced communication crewmembers participated in a variety of for microbes, whilst Ovchinin and Ivanishin and coordination. eye examinations as part of the Fluid Shifts devoted the first of two days removing and experiment. Ovchinin and Skripochka replacing a communications unit inside Another day… performed blood pressure measurements Zvezda. Williams logged his 500th day in space over four for a second day’s work with Biocard and On 12 August, Williams, Rubins and Onishi space missions on 4 August. He marked the Onishi cleaned continued with milestone by spending most of the day inside and exchanged ‘Rubins gathered tools inside further ultrasound the Russian segment conducting continuing filters to the Mouse Quest for the forthcoming EVA…’ eye tests. Rubins research with the Fluid Shifts experiment, Habitat Unit inside Kibo. returned to the Heart Cells experiment and assisted by Skripochka and Ovchinin. Rubins During the morning hours of 10 August, Onishi conducted the Fine Motor Skills gathered tools inside Quest for the forthcoming Williams and Rubins donned their EVA suits study, loaded Dragon with cargo for return EVA and helped Onishi with loading research for a three hour pre-EVA fit check. Rubins to Earth and finished a 36 hour session with materials inside Dragon for return to Earth. then moved onto observing heart cells with ESA’s Circadian Rhythms experiment, which On 5 August, Williams and Ivanishin stowed the specialised microscope and Williams examines how a crewmember’s biological biological samples for the Fluid Shifts study, joined Ivanishin for further eye tests and clock changes during long duration spaceflight. whilst Rubins conducted more work with the ultrasound scans for the Fluid Shifts study. The weekend of 13/14 August was a light-duty Heart Cells experiment and Onishi tended to Onishi did further maintenance to the Mouse period for the crew and on 15 August Williams the Mouse Epigenetics study. Habitat and replaced a hard drive on a and Rubins reviewed procedures with ground The crew had their usual light-duty laptop computer which collects data for specialists for their forthcoming EVA, Onishi weekend 6/7 August and returned to work on NASA’s Meteor experiment. Skripochka and continued to monitor the Mouse Habitat and the Fluid Shifts experiment in earnest on 8 his Russian colleague took turns with the there were more Fluid Shifts studies by the crew.

Expedition 48 crewmembers in the Zvezda module share a light moment during a meal. Left to right: Anatoly Ivanishin, Oleg Skripochka, Kate Rubins, Jeff Williams, Takuya Onishi and Alexey Ovchinin. NASA

Spaceflight Vol 58 October 2016 371

368-371.indd 371 8/18/2016 10:06:58 AM physiology Controlling Exposure to Deadly Martian Microbes

Dr John R Cain FBIS

NASA’s Curiosity Rover searches for evidence of a past environment suitable for life but is it there today? NASA-JPL

magine a scenario some decades in the mitigate exposure whilst working and living in a that such microorganisms will inhabit the future. Several astronauts land on Mars low gravity environment [1]. deep and near surface environments utilising after a long journey. Their immune systems a biochemistry/biology similar to that of the Iare weakened due to radiation exposure. Immune status terrestrial Archaea. After a module has been fully assembled at Prior to the space voyage to Mars, a number During EVA and the selection of sites for the Pole Cap base, they decide to explore of astronauts will be screened for their sample collection and during the sample the surrounding terrain, chosen because the immunological status using exposomes [2]. collection itself, the astronauts will need to be environmental conditions appear to favour the Exposomes, or markers of exposure, can be careful to avoid heavily contaminating their growth of primitive organisms. used to identify those astronauts at greatest spacesuits with dust that may contain potential During the initial extra vehicular activity risk from exposure to radiation during the Archaea-like organisms. Once samples have (EVA) sub-surface samples are collected journey to Mars. Those found to be most been collected, they will be double contained for analysis to detect evidence of microbial affected by exposure to radiation and thereby to prevent an accidental release of dust activity. Laboratory studies identify organisms more susceptibility to infection will be selected inside the airlock and during transport to the that resemble Archaea bacteria that inhabit out by exposome screening. Only the hardiest laboratory. extreme environments on Earth. A week in terms of their immune status would journey Once inside the airlock, the astronauts will passes and one of the researchers develops to Mars. need to be aware of the routes of exposure a fever with heavy bleeding from the gums, a It is highly likely that any organisms living in of any alien organisms so that they can take violent headache and painful stomach cramps. the Martian soil will have a similar biochemistry preventative measures such as vacuuming their Other researchers also develop the symptoms. to those living in extreme environments on spacesuits prior to removal to reduce cross- Treatment can only relieve the symptoms Earth [3]. So before EVA is undertaken on contamination. If an astronaut was not careful which get more severe. Eventually all the crew the Martian surface to search for evidence of then exposure to Archaea-like organisms via become infected and over the week they all life, in the first instance and as part of good inhalation, ingestion, skin and eye contact or die. astronautical hygiene practice, the astronauts a combination of these could occur. But would This is a nightmare scenario for the will gather information on the biology of the exposure necessarily lead to health effects and governments, industrial backers, universities terrestrial organisms i.e. the Archaea and apply result in serious consequences? and individuals sponsoring the mission. the intelligence gained to estimate whether Terrestrial Archaea have been implicated However, such a catastrophe need never have similar type microbes could survive on Mars. in human disease in particular of the gastro- happened if there had been the application Terrestrially, the Archaea domain has an intestinal tract and the mouth. Extra-terrestrial of effective astronautical hygiene principals independent evolutionary history that differs Archaea may cause similar diseases which (Table 1). from that of the Bacteria and Eukaryota are not life threatening. However, it is possible This paper outlines how the application domains [4]. This is reflected in their unique that following exposure the Martian organisms of such principles would have prevented the biochemistry that allows them to colonise and could develop enhanced virulence factors due above scenario. Astronautical hygiene is the thrive in extreme environments such as hot to mutation whilst in the human body and cause application of science and technology to identify and cold springs, hot geysers and salt lakes. disease with unknown health effects, some of the hazards, to assess the exposure health The surface of Mars is oxidising and exposed which could be fatal. The risks of developing risks and then to determine the measures to to high levels of radiation so it is expected a serious infectious disease would need to be

372 Spaceflight Vol 58 October 2016

372-375.indd 372 8/18/2016 10:07:11 AM physiology

TABLE 1: Principles of Good Astronautical Hygiene Practice as Applied to Microbe Exposure on Mars. Principles of Good Astronautical Hygiene Practice 1. Identify the hazard e.g. Archaea –like organisms 2. Characterise the hazard e.g. does it produce toxins and bio-films 3. Determine the routes of exposure e.g. inhalation, ingestion, skin and eye contact 4. Establish the exposure health effects such as gastrointestinal, oral disease 5. Assess the health risks e.g. risk assessment, modelling, compliance sampling 6. Determine the measures to prevent or control exposure e.g. careful EVA work procedures to reduce cross-contamination, wearing a suitable spacesuit, use of effective airlock extraction

mitigated using measures determined by the need to plan to take adequate precautions pools; risk assessment i.e. the fifth stage of good during EVA. In contrast Jupiter has a POL • type of spacesuit to be worn and the astronautical hygiene practice. rating of 5 and Earth a POL rating of 1. degree of contamination likely to be Once a Martian base has been established obtained so that the most effective and Risk assessment and there is a high possibility that there may efficient decontamination procedures can Any manned mission to Mars would need to be life on the planet based on modelling, then be applied on return [6]; assess the health risks from exposure to a the astronauts will carry out a risk assessment • the potential routes of microbe exposure range of hazards including microbes. Part based on an understanding of the potential when removing the spacesuit in the airlock; of the risk assessment in this case would be hazard and the likely health risks. A suitable • use of air monitoring techniques to the use of computer modelling to determine and sufficient risk assessment will need to determine the quantitative number of the probabilities of encountering Martian address the: microbes in the airlock and whether they microbial life. One such model is based on a • number of astronauts that are likely to comply with a permissible exposure limit; rating system developed by Irwin and Schulze- be potentially exposed to Archaea-like • use of genetic modification techniques Makuch to estimate the chance that life could organisms during EVA; e.g. polymerase chain reaction (PCR) exist on a planetary body [5]. • tasks that are to be undertaken on the amplification to identify the presence of Such a Plausibility of Life (POL) rating surface including the time periods involved extra-terrestrial organisms quickly and system model is based on a number of and whether these would increase the accurately; and parameters, such as, is there the presence of risks of space suit contamination; • methods to mitigate the health risks of a liquid medium, is there a source of energy? • possible location and physical composition exposure to Archaea-like organisms when Using these criteria, Mars has a high POL of specific niches where Archaea-like returning to the base e.g. use of effective rating of 2, i.e. there is a favourable chance of organisms and other potential organisms local exhaust ventilation (LEV) in the life developing and astronauts would therefore could thrive for example, in sub-surface airlock.

Expeditions far from base camp will incur risks mitigated through hazard control but possible contamination from microbial life will be an ever present danger. NASA

Spaceflight Vol 58 October 2016 373

372-375.indd 373 8/18/2016 10:07:12 AM physiology

Mineral veins are prominent in the Garden City site where NASA’s Curiosity rover Mastcam viewed a rock ridge on lower Mount Sharp. Evidence exists to support the view that Mars was once amenable to life but is it likely that Archaea exist there today and, if so, will that pose a hazard for explorers? NASA

The information gathered from the risk • use of effectively designed airlocks with system so that re-circulated air is effectively assessment will be used by the astronautical suitable extraction systems to remove cleaned; hygienist to assess the potential astronaut contaminated air at a specified rate • use of biohazard safety cabinets designed exposure health risks and to determine and replace the extracted air with clean to contain, extract and thereby prevent the the most appropriate measures to mitigate uncontaminated air; release of Archaea-like organisms during exposure during and following EVA (the sixth • use of effective and efficient local exhaust experimentation; stage of good astronautical hygiene practice). ventilation (LEV) systems throughout the • use of microbial airborne and surface At all times during EVA, the astronauts will spacecraft to reduce airborne microbial monitoring regimes to ensure that microbial need to keep an open mind that organisms levels to concentrations below appropriate contamination is not exceeding recognised with unknown biochemistries may thrive in the permissible exposure limit standards PELs; Martian soil and pose an unknown threat. (PELs); • wearing of suitable personal protective • provision of effectively high efficiency equipment (PPE) and respiratory protective Prevention or control? particulate filters (HEPA) on each LEV equipment (RPE) by laboratory staff; Potential exposure to Archaea-like organisms Exploration of rock faces demands high energy activity and human health will be vital for mission safety. and the genetic exchange between inter- NASA species resulting from astronaut cross- contamination may result in the development of serious disease. If there is a propensity for cross-contamination between astronauts, then the disease could spread rapidly amongst the astronaut population. Assessing and utilising effective measures to mitigate exposure will need to be an on- going process at all times to address this risk [7]. In this situation the measures to prevent or control exposure to Martian Archaea-like organisms based on the risk assessment are likely to include the: • wearing of a spacesuit with a reduced dust retention time and of a design to allow easy decontamination of surface areas inside an airlock with a vacuum, for example following EVA; • use of appropriate tools and operational procedures when conducting EVA to minimise spacesuit contamination; • use of effective spacesuit donning and doffing procedures to minimise airborne contamination within the airlock;

374 Spaceflight Vol 58 October 2016

372-375.indd 374 8/18/2016 10:07:12 AM physiology

• regular cleaning and disinfection of surfaces to reduce surface microbial contamination, to prevent the build-up of bio-film on equipment and to reduce the levels of cross-contamination between astronauts; • regular monitoring and maintenance of the life-support systems to ensure homeostasis; • prompt administering of antibiotic therapy as advised by the space physician to treat a disease caused by Archaea for example; and • implementation of effective quarantine procedures to limit the spread of infection.

The implementation and application of the above methods to mitigate exposure to Archaea-like bacteria will also reduce the exposure health risks from other hazards A resource prospector robot undergoes thermal-vacuum testing. Small reconnaissance vehicles may be encountered during the exploration of Mars deployed to “sniff” out potential hazards but microbial threats to human health will be difficult to detect. such as Martian dust and gasses released NASA from the life support systems. the opening scenario and a setback in Man’s measurement in molecular epidemiology”, Conclusion exploration of space. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev, 14, pp.1847-1850, 2005. There will be the risk of exposure to 3. S.L. Nixon, C.R. Cousins & C.S. Cockell, Archaea-like organisms that live in extreme Dr Cain is a UK Government expert on health “Plausible microbial metabolisms on Mars, environments during the exploration of Mars. risk management and was the first scientists to A & G, 54, pp.1.13-1.16, 2013. In the event of exposure, these microbes define the scientific discipline of astronautical 4. R. Caviccholi, “Extremophiles and could cause serious disease and subsequently hygiene. the search for extraterrestrial life”, jeopardise a mission. It will therefore be Astrobiology, 2, pp.281-292, 2002. 5. L.N. Irwin & D Schulze-Makuch, “Assessing necessary to significantly reduce the health References the plausibility of life on other worlds”, risks by the application of good astronautical Astrobiology, 2, pp.143-160, 2001. hygiene practice. 1. J.R. Cain, “Astronautical hygiene – A new 6. K. Leuoth & D. Weihrauch, “Double Shell This will include identifying the hazard, discipline to protect the health of astronauts Spacesuit – a Concept Study”, Inst of assessing the exposure health risks and then working in space”, JBIS, 64, pp.179-185, Astronautics, Technische Universtat, 2011. Munchen, Germany, 2005. determining the appropriate measures to 2. C.P. Wild, “Complementing the genome 7. J.R. Cain, “Lunar dust – The hazard and mitigate exposure. A failure to do this could with an “exposome”: the outstanding astronaut exposure risks”, Earth, Moon, lead to grave consequences as outlined in challenge of environmental exposure and Planets, 107, pp.107-125, 2010.

Exploration habitats will provide accommodation for astronauts on Mars but a vital function will be to provide a barrier against microbial infection through bio- locks on entrances. NASA

Spaceflight Vol 58 October 2016 375

372-375.indd 375 8/18/2016 10:07:13 AM spaceflight at 60 Spaceflight at 60

‘…probably no achievement of the human mind has been so well documented before the event as has the conquest of space…’ Arthur C. Clarke 1954

Older than the Space Age, for 60 years Spaceflight magazine has been the beating heart of the British Interplanetary Society, connecting astronautical events across the space-faring world to an international readership of scientists, engineers, students, enthusiasts and supporters.

Over the following pages we look back to how it all began and how the magazine has changed over six decades across a dizzying parade of events which have seen the world’s first satellite launched into orbit, the first humans fly into space, the first manned expeditions to the Moon and the diverse range of automated spacecraft which have visited every major body in the solar system – all in less than 60 years.

But Spaceflight has been more, serving as a binding commentary on activities within the British Interplanetary Society itself, of events in the International Astronautical Federation of which the BIS was a founding member, and as a platform for opinion, interpretation and analysis on historic and breath-taking events throughout six decades of history-making spectacle.

Yet Spaceflight is more than all of that. In addition to recoding events of immense historic importance and informing a readership about BIS meetings, seminars, conferences and lectures, it has sought to stimulate new generations of enthusiasts. For it is toward the future that Spaceflight points: taking lessons from the past, interpreting the present and previewing technology and applications of the future.

376 Spaceflight Vol 58 October 2016

376-385.indd 376 8/18/2016 11:03:56 AM spaceflight at 60 Roots of ownership

ormed in October 1933 with Phil the distinguished and highly respected peer- forward was defined taking account of the new Cleator as President, initially the reviewed Journal of the British Interplanetary technologies which had created the missile British Interplanetary Society had few Society it is today, now the longest lived age, many seeing this as precursor to the Fresources and only limited funds. Except for astronautical publication. Yet it was directly as space age. the intellectual property of its membership, a result of the personal efforts, and not a little Over the next decade ideas stimulated by including several important figures who would self-sacrifice, of Phil Cleator that the Journal wartime research and a new sense of energy play seminal roles in the development of space began and survived, its value as a marketing produced designs and proposals for a wide flight and astronautics over the next decades. tool for the BIS proper being demonstrated range of potential applications. In 1946 R. A. Instead of funding research and through the increase in membership it Smith proposed modifying a salvaged V-2 into a experimentation as others had done, the attracted. man-carrying rocket – Megaroc – which would, BIS focused on theoretical studies and on Sent to newspapers and organisations he said, put a British pilot in space within that disseminating information and educational deemed to have an interest in astronautics, decade. Many of the design features would materials, while encouraging the scientific and the first edition was paid for by Cleator himself be found in the American Mercury spacecraft engineering study of astronautics as a feasible while the second and third issues were printed of the late 1950s, this endorsing the logical and beneficial endeavour for humans to gratis by Littlewood’s Pools founder John configuration. engage in. Nevertheless, with all its associated Moores. Cleator’s own book (Rockets Through Megaroc caught the attention of the Daily requirements and infrastructure, a formal Space) was published in 1936 and did much Express and its rising star Chapman Pincher, publishing programme was the last thing it good in broadening public awareness of the who after joining the Royal Armoured Corps wanted to get into and not without valid reason. potential behind rocketry and the exploration of in 1940 had served in the Rocket Division at Key, as it would turn out, to the success space. This in turn benefitted the BIS through the Ministry of Supply. The idea of sending of the BIS was in its connection to the increased membership and its connection to a man into space appealed to Pincher, who popularisation of space travel at a time when the Menzies film made by at least one national pushed the story and made it national news, public awareness in rocketry was beginning to newspaper. take off. Newspapers would frequently refer to Following a move R. A. Smith’s 1947 Moonship design has been favourably compared to the this new mode of propulsion and as the aviation to London in 1937 and Apollo Lunar Module designed 15 years later but the design also recognised that only the lander itself need go to the surface. BIS industry grew the lay-person connected this the hiatus caused by with futuristic films, not least William Cameron the Second World War, Menzies’ cinematic interpretation of H. G. the BIS was stimulated Wells’ book “The Shape of Things to Come”, by the potential released on 14 September 1936 under an inherent in the world’s abbreviated title. first ballistic missile – In the film “Things to Come” the rocket the V-2. Through the was displayed as the culminating dilemma for energies of a group humans trapped in an ever escalating sequence from industry, notably of technologies and comforts – whether to send Kenneth Gatland the next generation on voyages of discovery far and H. N. Pantlin of from Earth from which they may not return, or Hawker Aircraft Ltd, shun the challenge of the new and relax back who in 1941 had formed into a cosy introspection, a citizenry fuelled on the Astronautical conspicuous consumption content to make Development Society, life easier, softer and safer rather than bold, the Combined British adventurous and fulfilling. Astronautical Societies Detached somewhat from the societal was formed in 1944. repercussions of choices still decades in the Boasting a total of future, the British Interplanetary Society sought 200 members it was instead to build a pragmatic culture of scientific merged with the British investigation, of engineering design fit for a Interplanetary Society, new age of exploration and discovery beyond largely as a result of the environs of Earth and to do that it needed work carried out by Phil to connect with like-minded thinkers in both Cleator, R. A Smith and science and engineering. And it needed to do A. M. Low. it as a priority, opening channels of collective After being wound discussion by broadening the intellectual up the “old” BIS was search for solutions and, in so doing, enhance reformed as the current opportunities for recruiting new members. British Interplanetary The Journal appeared in January 1934 as Society on 1 January a pamphlet with six pages but would grow into 1946 and a way

Spaceflight Vol 58 October 2016 377

376-385.indd 377 8/18/2016 11:03:58 AM spaceflight at 60

The BIS has always been recognised as a forward-thinking instrument of rational inspiration, acknowledged here by senior management at NASA after the first Moon landing. BIS

mentioning the BIS and giving it a wider to the then highly complicated devices so into Space was a very Anglo-centric view of the audience. The concept made it into several delicate to handle that they required a special future for British aviation and its spawning of other papers and magazines. black colour to warn ground crew (known as the space age. Launched from Australia, the In 1948 the Ross-Smith wheel-shaped “erks”, to those of a certain age!) not to knock fictional ship was supported by a crew played space station concept appeared. Based on an them about in the usual fashion! by such luminaries as Andrew Faulds, also the original idea from H. Noordung in 1928, the Success, widespread popular interest and a narrator, and a spaceship crew comprising Guy station was one of the first to achieve a high new awareness of the coming “age of space” Kingsley Poynter, Bruce Beeby, David Kossof level of practical design and today is considered increased membership of the BIS from less and David Jacobs, among others. an important milestone on the road to the than 600 in 1949 to more than 900 the following The space soap ran into three series and space stations of today. The Ross station was year. Expansion of the publishing programme received high critical acclaim: “Hats off to described in the January 1949 edition of the saw six copies of the Journal produced in 1950 Charles Chilton, who has switched from Riders Journal, a large facility with room for 24 people for a total extent of 300 pages. The number of the Range to Journey into Space with in a configuration which would be amenable of copies printed in 1950 surged to 2,000, an masterly ease. I rate this space travel serial to geosynchronous orbit and communications increase of one-third on the previous year. as the most exciting piece of radio material for relay, among many other scientific tasks. During the first half of the 1950s the surge in years”, opined the Daily Express. It was but The use of geosynchronous orbit had been interest was fuelled in part by the appearance representative of its day, an age in which British postulated by several writers from the 1920s of several films and magazine articles in the UK aviation was in the forefront of engineering but it was Arthur C. Clarke who first gave the and the United States. In America Walt Disney design and record breaking aircraft. idea broad popularity through an article he teamed with Wernher von Braun on the design It is perhaps difficult today for those wrote for the magazine Wireless World. Clarke of a winged space shuttle powered into space unaccustomed to exclusively British superiority imagined a crewed geosynchronous relay by a giant rocket. This became the centrepiece in aeronautical achievements to reflect back on station and this influenced the Ross-Smith of a three-part TV series. In the UK, Kenneth a time when this country was producing some station. This was, after all, an age in which Gatland served as technical consultant on the of the most advanced aircraft of their day. automation was struggling to challenge manual BBC radio series Journey into Space. Bolstered by a decade of world-class aircraft applications and the term “black box” referred Created in 1953 by Charles Chilton, Journey design and manufacture, when the war ended

378 Spaceflight Vol 58 October 2016

376-385.indd 378 8/18/2016 11:03:59 AM spaceflight at 60

in 1945 the UK had achieved top status and over the next several years the new post-war Labour government would sell aeronautical Spaceflight rising airframe and engine secrets to the Americans while giving them away to the Russians. But he influence of the British Interplanetary have significant influence over the kind of the world’s record books were replete with Society had been increasing from its vehicle selected to launch a US satellite. British achievements. pre-war days when there were meagre Satin bought a copy of the BIS book and On 7 September 1947 Edward Donaldson Tresources and only a small group of fellow- was amazed to discover that the rockets flew a Gloster Meteor F Mk 4 to a world speed travellers to gather, produce papers for the being developed in the United States could be record of 990.79 km/hr, breaking the previous Journal or engage with the public in scientific adapted and upgraded to launch a satellite, record, set 10 months earlier to the day by or philosophical debate. contrary to the grandiose ideas projected another British aircraft. On exactly the same Influence grew too within the international by von Braun to the public through a series date in 1953, test pilot Neville Duke raised that fraternity of associated organisations which of articles in the US publication Colliers to 1,171 mph in a Hawker Hunter Mk 3 and had survived, been freshly re-constituted or Magazine. Satin carried this concept back to later the same month Mike Lithgow increased emerged for the first time after the end of the America and thus began a transformation in that to 1,184 km/hr in a Supermarine Swift F4. war. It was the newly formed Gesellschaft für thinking about how to launch the space age, Topping that, on 10 March 1956 Peter Twiss Weltraumforschung in Germany which called taking space science from sounding rocket to flew the diminutive delta Fairy F.D.2 to 1,822 upon the international community to assemble orbital flight. km/hr, Mach 1.73, the significance of which in London at a conference hosted by the BIS Within two years von Braun worked with his was that this was the first time any aircraft but it was in Paris, at the end of September Army employer to propose such a launcher anywhere had exceeded 1,000 mph. Only the 1950 that the first meeting was held from which utilising a converted Redstone ballistic missile. American rocket powered research aircraft, the International Astronautical Federation Known as Project Orbiter, when the Americans carried into the air by a mother-plane, flew (IAF) was formed and from which the annual decided in 1955 to launch a satellite for the faster. congresses ensued. International Geophysical Year (IGY) of 1957- No surprise then that the public expected to Meanwhile, fresh from the Hawker design 58, the idea was turned down in favour of a read of the coming space age as one in which offices, Ken Gatland, Anthony Kunesch and “civilian” venture named Vanguard managed Britain would play a leading role. The British Alan Dixon challenged themselves to design by the Office of Naval Research. It too was a Interplanetary Society was about to make a what would be presented as a Minimum “minimum vehicle” compared to the colossi first momentous decision. It was time to go public. Satellite Vehicle at the proposed by von Braun, but when it failed after The first issue of Spaceflight was dated October 1956 and went on sale for Second International the launch of Sputnik it was a rocket based the princely sum of 15p! BIS Astronautical Congress on Redstone that finally put the first American in 1951. While satellite into space on 31 January 1958. major players in the With the very British penchant for the development of rocketry understatement, and a reluctance to envisaged a very acknowledge national achievement, it would be large launcher to carry several decades before it became known that people and satellites the work by Gatland, Kunesch and Dixon had into space, the new dramatically influenced the way the Americans concept envisaged an went about putting a satellite in space. initial entry effort to the space age based on Birth rockets not so very far A year before the space age dawned with advanced from those the launch of Sputnik 1 on 4 October 1957, already in existence. the BIS took another step toward the future After the Congress by launching a magazine to provide timely the BIS put together a information about events associated with the 74-page book covering push toward space. several studies, among By this time the BIS had moved to 12 which was the proposed Bessborough Gardens in London and the scaled-down satellite Council decided to publish a quarterly known launcher. About 500 simply as Spaceflight. In deciding how to copies were distributed fund the new publication while minimising the around the world and financial risk involved, it was decided to set up toward the end of the the “Spaceflight Publishing Company Limited”. following year Arthur This followed a decision in 1953 to register the Clarke entertained name “Interplanetary Publishing Company” for at his London home selling books covering space, astronautics and Alexander Satin, astronomy. an American from The decision to start up a quarterly the Office of Naval magazine required serious analysis and much Research, who would deliberation by the Council and by the Executive

Spaceflight Vol 58 October 2016 379

376-385.indd 379 8/18/2016 11:03:59 AM spaceflight at 60

Moore’s Skywatching column in Spaceflight gave amateur astronomy a legitimacy among the growing band of enthusiasts and provided a broader base upon which to garner enthusiasm and support. Not only for the BIS but also for astronautics as a productive endeavour for humankind in this, the most technological of times. To encourage a balanced view of the future, and to support the peaceful uses of outer space, several articles presented logical arguments for restraining the military interest in rocketry and the potential of orbital flight. Quite quickly, Spaceflight became an organ for debate and conjecture. In one issue Ken Gatland argued against a suggestion from one reader that the Moon would be a good testing target for ballistic missiles, in another Dr Leslie Shepherd, President of the BIS, provided an extensive discussion of the founding of the IAF. The magazine was successful in attracting important writers, historians such as Frederick I. Ordway III who, along with Ronald C. Wakeford, provided a highly detailed description of America’s surface-to-surface Patrick Moore (right), Spaceflight’s first Editor, at the th20 anniversary of the Apollo mission, shaking missile arsenal in the issue published the hands with Gordon Bolton. Apollo ALSEP engineer Keith Wright is between the two facing the camera. very same month Russia put the world’s first BIS satellite into orbit.

Secretary Len Carter. The production cost of Singer of Maryland University, it was dubbed Balancing this, with an eye on the young the new magazine would amount to £600 per MOUSE (Minimum Orbital Unmanned Satellite reader. W. E. Keswall provided a rundown of issue, equivalent to a purchasing value of Earth) and had evolved from the Gatland, recommended titles for aspiring astronauts. £14,000 in 2016. Nevertheless, the Council Kunesch and Dixon concept developed Review sections kept readers up to date with decided wisely to authorise only two issues between 1948 and 1951. As such it too would the latest books from Arthur C. Clarke and other before reviewing its prospects and Len proved influence the configuration of early US satellite writers while reports were filed on important a valuable asset in its preparation. vehicles. symposia, including one held at Cranfield held, The mandate for Spaceflight was to inform The first edition of Spaceflight carried we were informed, on a “…typical English the readership about events around the world a description of the American Vanguard summer day, starting with a cloudy sky and related to astronautics and to provide details programme and the plan for it to send a the thoughts of light showers…”! Organised about activities organised by the Society satellite into orbit as part of the IGY. It also by the BIS, the Royal Aeronautical Society and events attended or supported by the carried sundry news items and deliberated and Cranfield College of Aeronautics, the organisation itself. As always, the BIS looked over several ideas about the exploration of symposium featured the Skylark sounding to Spaceflight to help grow its membership but space. It was very much a team effort and rocket which was a central attraction. the appointment of an Editor brought further while Patrick Moore as Editor had the final For the first three years Spaceflight deliberation and after preliminary approaches word on content, it was largely steered by Len addressed a dizzyingly rapid-paced sequence Patrick Moore agreed to fill that post. Carter. The Council watched pensively to its of global events catapulting space-faring In 1956 Patrick was already a published acceptance and in general it was welcomed. aspirations into reality as the two superpowers author, having written his “Guide to the Moon” With 40 pages and a distinctive red cover it flexed their technological virility symbols on in 1952 while employed as a teacher at sat well with its contemporaries and bridged the the world stage. Increasing attention to space Holmewood House School in Langton Green. gap between astronautical columns of the trade science and exploration saw the formation of Passionate about astronomy he was active press and the peer-reviewed papers of the BIS NASA, projections of human space flight in in various societies and had already acquired Journal. While the publicity afforded by the the Mercury programme, Russia’s orbiting the 12½ in reflector which he kept throughout appearance of the magazine was undoubtedly of dogs, Moon probes and heavy satellites his life. An amateur observational astronomer to the benefit of the Society, events conspired fuelling a voracious appetite for increasingly at heart, supportive of the push toward to grow that attraction to even greater heights. detailed information followed by an insatiable space exploration, Patrick Moore brought an Space began to be discussed more broadly consumption of facts and figures. enthusiasm which shone through his work and the public expected to see the first ventures Spaceflight was there to support this market and his ability to write intelligently about these into space at any time. Popular journals such and at the core of it, behind Patrick Moore, was subjects gave him gravitas. as Sphere and Illustrated London News the solid engineering pragmatism of Kenneth The first issue of Spaceflight was dated carried informative articles about the IGY and Gatland, who did much of the work on the October 1956 and on the cover it carried a prospects for American plans to place satellites magazine and produced a great deal of its painting by John W. Wood depicting a satellite in orbit. content. Ken had been a BIS Council member launcher. The brainchild of Professor S. F. The ever present influence of Patrick since 1945 and was by this time one of the

380 Spaceflight Vol 58 October 2016

376-385.indd 380 8/18/2016 11:04:01 AM spaceflight at 60

more prolific contributors. Just as Reginald it…Ken Gatland! behind the “Iron Curtain” and many papers Turnill, doyen of the BBC’s aviation and Spaceflight however, occupied a central were published which found their way into the space-reporting news house, was carving a niche, midway between the BIS Journal and lofty halls of government influence. Links were reputation in sound broadcasting, Ken Gatland these other magazines and periodicals which established with various organisations as they was the UK’s first space reporter. Applying his bolted on coverage of space and astronautics relied on Spaceflight for detailed information engineering knowledge, coupled to a sound without making it the central theme of their on specific subjects, citing its writings and understanding of scientific principles, he was content. It quickly became regarded as the deliberations in government reports. able to interpret events in a style indicative of magazine “in the know”, because it published Dr Charles Sheldon of the Science Policy the well informed expert adding analysis and articles from specialists and covered esoteric Research Division of the Congressional judgement. subjects such as astrobiology, the search Research Service was one such and Patrick Moore quickly achieved success as for life in the Universe and the ethics of the established lasting ties to the BIS through a broadcaster and found his role as Editor of scientific method. detailed articles published in Spaceflight. Spaceflight conflicting with time required for Patrick Moore returned to the pages of Dr Sheldon was a leading expert on Soviet his own television programme, originally called Spaceflight in an article decrying the suffering space programmes and became a good friend Star Map before changing to the now familiar imposed on animals simply to advance of the BIS through his reading of Spaceflight The Sky at Night. The first episode had been the cause of mankind. This did raise some magazine, where he frequently told the current broadcast on 24 April 1957 and by 1959 the responses, such as a letter from the Rev. J. E. Editor that he benefitted greatly from its BIS was looking for a new Editor to replace E. Tunstall who expressed a fervent wish “that reports. Patrick, now well on his way to becoming an in the next era of ‘civilization’ the monkeys may While working in Washington, D.C. the international figure. It was time for Patrick to get on top and begin shooting scientists into current Editor knows from personal experience pass the mantle, his last issue being January space!” that during the 1960s and ‘70s James A. 1959, and it was Ken Gatland who picked it up Uniquely among any periodicals reporting Gehrig, staff director of the US Senate with the issue dated April 1959. space activities, Spaceflight, as a publication Aeronautical and Space Sciences Committee, of the BIS, had its finger on the connections used Spaceflight to access analytical surveys Growth and contacts within the industry which were a which he conveyed to others staffers working Spaceflighthad a cover price of 3/- (15p) when fundamental part of the Society’s existence. for committee members. On at least one launched in October 1956, which is less than As a founder member of the IAF, the Society occasion during several appearances before £4 in 2016 buying power. When Ken Gatland was in the forefront of bringing together the Senate committees, your current Editor took over the price increased to 3/6 (17.5p). By Russian and American space personalities, testified (in conjunction with Ken Gatland) now membership of the BIS had grown to 3,000 engineers, scientists and astronauts, at annual directly on articles in Spaceflight concerning and Ken Gatland was supported by an editorial congresses which were the only global forum international cooperation in space. This was board comprising Maurice Allward, Charles where everyone could meet everyone else at a favourite theme of another influential civil Cross, A. Coleman, D. Hurden and A. E. Slater, the same place. servant who read Spaceflight. the equivalent perhaps, at least in function, of Spaceflight became a vehicle for specialised Charles F. Ducander was Executive Director today’s BIS Publications Committee. groups carrying out research on activities and Chief Counsel for the US House of Ken immediately set about giving Spaceflight a more journalistic approach and, combined Kenneth Gatland, Editor from 1959 to 1981, talks to Russian physicist Leonid Sedov, President of the with an engineering background, his talent IAF from 1959 to 1961. BIS for writing gave the magazine a new fluidity and an immediacy of reportage which was to characterise it henceforth. By the end of 1959 it was reporting on events from America to the Soviet Union, displaying one of its great strengths in transcending national borders to bring the reader to the heart of the space age. Back in the 1950s magazines were the only means by which people could keep abreast of timely events in space activity. Periodicals for the aviation industry on sale at newsagents carried several pages devoted to space exploration. Flight and Aeroplane each carried news and information on rockets and space vehicles with correspondents such as Kenneth Owen sent to Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg Air Force Base. The popular fact-based aviation magazine Royal Air Force Flying Review had, by the early 1960s, undergone a transformation in style and featured information and news on spacecraft, missiles and rockets on a dedicated page or two with every issue, courtesy of, you guessed

Spaceflight Vol 58 October 2016 381

376-385.indd 381 8/18/2016 11:04:01 AM spaceflight at 60

Representatives’ Committee on Science and Astronautics during the 1960s and remarked to your current Editor on several occasions how much he and others in Washington D.C. valued the connections through the BIS and Spaceflight. It had, it seems a respect which did much to benefit the Society at a time when space activity was on the increase with many countries and organisations around the world looking to stake their own claim on the future. Spaceflight also received attention from behind the Iron Curtain for some of its published reports and articles. During many visits made by the current Editor to Russia during the 1980s he became aware through conversations at the Ministry of Defence in Moscow that the engineering reports on the Shuttle and on studies of NASA’s plans for a large space station had been of exceptional interest to the Russians. Those highly detailed articles published during the early and mid- 1970s had attracted no small measure of An Editorial meeting in the library after the BIS moved to its present address in 1979. Left to right: Mrs attention from Russia’s KGB and GRU (Soviet Vidler, Shirley Jones, Gerry Groves (Spaceflight’s third Editor) and Len Carter. BIS military intelligence), an interest visited upon the author of those pieces, albeit unknown at in Spaceflight. on newsstands which it achieved in the UK and the time. Beginning with the June 1981 issue the United States. Spaceflight, it seemed, captured the attention Gerald (Gerry) Groves took over as Editor. Then, in February 1986 a youthful Clive of many varied and separate organisations Ken Gatland returned to BAe to work for the Simpson was named on the masthead as around the world and for diverse reasons. SAAB 25 team prior to moving to the technical assistant editor and thus began an association publications department. Gerry had willing with producing the magazine which would Expansion helpers in the form of Len Carter, A. D. Farmer endure, on and off, for almost 26 years, the With the January 1961 issue Spaceflight went and Andrew Wilson. The following month last 11 as Editor. Gerry Groves stood down bimonthly, each keeping the same number of Alan Farmer, with much help from Andrew in October 2000 and Clive’s first issue in the pages. Quite soon the price was raised to 4/6 Wilson, edited the first of twoSpace Education hot seat was November that year. He would (22.5p) and pagination was raised from 160 to issues replacing respective monthly issues of remain in position until the end of 2011. No 240 pages a year. It ran that way for five years, Spaceflight, the second appearing instead of single individual has spanned a longer tenure with November 1965 being the last bi-monthly the December issue. The following year, in involved with the production of Spaceflight, as issue. From January 1966 it ran monthly, May and September 1982, the BIS distributed assistant editor and then, after a pause, as providing readers with 480 pages a year. two issues of Space Education but only one Editor. But Ken Gatland’s 22 years as Editor From the July 1968 issue Spaceflight began less edition of Spaceflight. will probably stand as the record for a very long publishing its monthly “Satellite Digest”, at Beginning with the February 1983 edition, time, his tenure extended further by having first compiled by Geoffrey Falworth from data Spaceflight got a revamp with larger typeface been associated with it from the beginning. supplied by the Space Department of the and a restructured design befitting the period, Other names have come and gone but Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough. with an opening feature by Arthur C. Clarke several stand out. Andrew Wilson left to work Robert Christy took this over in 1975 until the titled “War and Peace in the Space Age”. Again, for the European Space Agency and is now late 1980s before Phillip Clark took over in two issues of Space Education were published, in its publications division. Steven Young the early 1990s. Spaceflight’s longest running the second in 1983 edited by Anthony (Tony) made a major contribution to the magazine series was sustained by Phillip until 2010 Lawton, elected President of the BIS that over many years and resident staff at the when Jonathan McDowell took over for a while year. In December 1983 the magazine pages Society’s headquarters have done far more followed by Geoff Richards in August of that acquired a gloss finish and by the following than their work specification requires to keep year. month the white heat of advanced technology the magazine on track, get it out to the readers On through the 1960s and 1970s Spaceflight invaded the BIS when the first issue composed and create a working environment in which the tracked the rise and fall of NASA’s fiscal on a “word processor” hit the presses! editorial staff can do their job. fortunes, reporting extensively on plans for In addition to two more issues of Space The job of Executive Secretary is vital the Shuttle, on the expansion of Soviet Earth- Education in 1984 and 1985, the May issue to the effective day-to-day running of the orbiting space stations and on the growing of 1986 saw the introduction of limited Society which directly affects Spaceflight. interest by many countries around the world colour, not tints but real colour! Spaceflight From Len Carter to Shirley Jones, Suszann in the burgeoning capabilities of satellite was off and running toward the 21st century. Parry and now Gillian Norman, the role and applications. Europe was on the move and Gradually, increasing numbers of colour pages the responsibilities have changed over time. the European Space Agency was formed appeared and the magazine began to take on But consistently throughout, they have been attracting considerable coverage and comment a completely new look, suitable even for sale central to managing an organisation which

382 Spaceflight Vol 58 October 2016

376-385.indd 382 8/18/2016 11:04:01 AM spaceflight at 60

has made major improvements. The most productive enhancement has been the digital connectivity between real-world events in the space-faring community and the production of the magazine. Now, with news content going to the BIS website, emphasis in the magazine has focused on interpreting these events and not simply on publishing press releases – which never happens in Spaceflight; readers are too intelligent not to recognise those as self-advertising publicity tools. Now Spaceflight has become one of a series of integrated BIS platforms, spilling its content to electronic and digital services. For example, during the recent six-month long mission of Tim Peake to the ISS, Spaceflight “published” on the BIS website daily Mission Director reports from Houston. This amounted to a total of more than 150,000 words in detailed logs. Central to the production of Spaceflight over many years, staffers gather for Len Carter’s 70th birthday Expect more of the same. in 1992. Left to right: Steven Young, Suszann Parry, Len Carter, Shirley Jones, Marilyn Marsland, Bernadette and Tom Walsh, Mary McGivern (later Todd). BIS Yet essential truths prevail and your current Editor’s writing mentor of 50 years ago, Ken must run efficiently to work well. In addition, of interpretation, explanation and reflection, Gatland, said that the real importance of support staff essential to the smarter running of providing readers with the instruments for Spaceflight magazine is that it records history the Society have been crucial, most notably the knowledge and informed opinion. so that those who come after will know how it work carried out by Mary Todd, who at times As the magazine has changed over time really happened. He was true to that and so will has carried out page design and preparation there have been several stages where it your current editorial team be. for delivery to the printers In addition, as production methods have Even robots can read. R2 at the Kennedy Space Center distracted from his assignment! Clive Simpson changed and everybody now relies heavily on digital services, the time taken between final design of the magazine and its delivery (electronically) for printing has narrowed from several weeks to a few days. And the design and preparation no longer requires paste-ups and typesetting! Crucial to these evolving times is Ben Jones, an essential figure within the production of Spaceflight, the one who receives rough layouts from the Editor and who crafts those into pages displaying the professionalism with which we are all now familiar. Spaceflight has changed over time to reflect the evolving needs of its readership. Sixty years ago it was an instrument for news and comment; today that job is carried out by on- line digital services and social media. Now, the magazine provides information, analysis, interpretation and explanation for a wide range of issues sometimes difficult to unravel in the information-fog created by news blitzing. It is linking with essential digital services to provide additional material on the BIS website. In that way it has become an even greater part of an integrated set of platforms including electronic newsletters and films archived on the members-only site. And more is to come. In that regard, Spaceflight is always adapting to what continues to be a changing global space environment with issues continually in need

Spaceflight Vol 58 October 2016 383

376-385.indd 383 8/18/2016 11:04:02 AM spaceflight at 60

BIS, receiving its only publication the Journal. Although I read it avidly it was much too full of Spaceflight and me tech-speak and mathematical formulae for my taste; although I remember items like a review by Arthur of the film When Worlds Collide, in By David A. Hardy FBIS which he pointed out that the only function of its ‘down and up’ ramp would be to waste some gravitational energy, and commented that the first became aware of the British school to ask my Art master, Mr Welburn how he final scene on the rogue planet Zyra looked Interplanetary Society at the age of 14 in thought they were done. His first response was: “more like off-colour Disney than vintage 1950, when I was given for Christmas a “They’re photographs, aren’t they?” I pointed Bonestell”. Ibook entitled Flights Into The Future, with out that we hadn’t yet been to those places, to In 1954, through astronomer Michael Guest, contributions by luminaries like Professor A. which his response was: “Well if you want to I was introduced to Patrick Moore, then an M. Low, “former President of the Interplanetary paint like that you’ll just have to work at it.” active BIS Council member, and was promptly Society”. I took his advice! But I did discover, years asked to illustrate a new book, Suns, Myths Although I did not know it at the time the later, that Bonestell did actually make models of and Men. The only problem was that I was due Moonship used throughout was the 1939 some of his landscapes and photograph them, to enter the RAF for National Service in just ‘modular’ design study,. So there was an in much the same way that James Nasmyth five days’ time. I produced the eight black-and- Interplanetary Society! I made what enquiries had done for his book with James Carpenter, white illustrations, using scraperboard, and I could at the local libraries, with little success. The Moon, back in 1874, so perhaps Mr posted them on my way to Cardington. Then in 1951 I found Arthur C. Clarke’s Welburn was right after all. I was posted to a camp at Hednesford and Interplanetary Flight, which was a bit technical The Clarke books contained references to for me, but I still loved it and when I could afford the BIS, which was clearly based in London so continued working on a new book with Patrick, it, bought it. might as well have been on the Moon as far as to be called “The Challenge of the Stars” – a Hard on its heels came his The Exploration I was concerned. sort of British Conquest of Space, showing of Space, which was written in a much more In 1952 I left grammar school, and although I how we would first build space stations in orbit, popular style, with illustrations by R. A. Smith had been equally good at Science and Art (which go on to the Moon and build bases there, then and colour plates by Leslie Carr. Then I found of course you’re not supposed to be) I was told to Mars. The Conquest of Space by Willy Ley with the there was no way to make a living in Art. So I It failed to find a publisher at the time (“too most realistic renderings of the Moon and became a laboratory technician at the College speculative”). It was not until 1972, after the planets by Chesley Bonestell. I took this to of Technology (later, part of the University of publication of Patrick’s highly successful Moon Atlas, detailing the Apollo missions, that a book The July 1958 issue carried this painting by David Hardy of the BIS Birmingham at Aston) with the title The Challenge of the Stars was Moonship descending toward the Nectaris basin. BIS with a view to making a career in science, published. probably chemistry (I I was ‘demobbed’ in 1956, just in time to see was already making my the publication of Spaceflight. It was of course own rockets!). I spent in black-and-white, which was normal in those my lunch hours visiting days, but Patrick commissioned a cover from the excellent Reference me (unpaid), an overhead view of the BIS lunar Library, and eventually lander designed by R. A. Smith, descending on discovered that there Mare Nectaris. This appeared as a halftone was a Midlands Branch cover in 1958. 1957 had been notable for being of the BIS, which met the year in which The Sky at Night appeared monthly at the College on our tiny TV screens, just in time to cover of Technology! the launch of the Soviet Sputnik (and also the The Secretary was prominent comet Arend-Roland). Colin (A. C.) Rotherham, I am sure that the introduction of Spaceflight and he quickly took me must have increased our membership under his wing, along dramatically, as it contained (and still does) up- with Norman Nicoll, an to-date information on the latest developments art teacher. Before long in space as well as the history of space travel, I was producing posters photos and “artist’s impressions” of vehicles for BIS meetings, and and possible future missions, and so on; all later large paintings for generally in non-technical language which exhibitions around the could easily be understood by the lay public. Midlands. Its appeal was increased still further when At these meetings I colour could be used. Under former editor Clive soon met my idol, Arthur Simpson it received the Sir Arthur Clarke Award C. Clarke, along with R. in 2008 in the “best space reporting” category, A. Smith, H. E. Ross, and is still the foremost source of information on and other BIS notaries. space, astronautics and rocketry. I am proud to I had by now joined the have been associated with it.

384 Spaceflight Vol 58 October 2016

376-385.indd 384 8/18/2016 11:04:02 AM spaceflight at 60

It was also a privilege to support former Executive Secretary Suszann Parry and her Memories team for the 2008 IAC in Glasgow when I helped with publicity and ran the Press and Media Office during the conference. By Clive Simpson, Managing Editor ROOM - The Space Journal As well as the satisfaction of putting the latest issue of Spaceflight “to bed” every month, there were other highlights that came y association with the British the position. with the position of Editor. Interplanetary Society (BIS) dates Producing a publication such as Spaceflight It was always a privilege to meet many of my back to the early 1980s when I first every month and maintaining high standards in own heroes – such erstwhile BIS supporters Mbecame a member and soon started writing terms of content and appearance was always like Sir Patrick Moore, Sir Arthur C. Clarke occasional articles for Spaceflight at the an interesting and rewarding challenge. and BBC “Apollo” reporter Reg Turnill, not to request of Len Carter, Executive Secretary at In parallel, I continued to run SimComm mention many astronauts, cosmonauts and the time. Europe, the media and PR agency I founded a other space celebrities. I was a journalist working in local few years earlier in Hampshire. Lucy (Owens) Looking back over almost four decades, newspapers but always had a strong interest in Kemp, a young journalist, had recently joined Spaceflight magazine has always been a space which, like many of my generation, had me at SimComm and I enlisted her help as significant part of my working and personal been a product of growing up in the 1960s and assistant editor until 2004. life in one way or another. I am delighted living and breathing not only the Apollo lunar Over more than a decade I guided and to have played a role in the history of a missions but also TV sci-fi serials of their day developed the magazine as resources allowed publication which can uniquely lay claim to like Thunderbirds and the original Star Trek. – it was always fun and each issue the having chronicled every step of the modern In 1985, having just launched a small home- product of a great team effort, with dedicated Space Age. My heartfelt congratulations on a spun space magazine with fellow space and contributors from all parts of the world. remarkable anniversary! print enthusiast Steve Byford, I was invited Of course, working and belonging to the to an interview with Len Carter and Gerald BIS always meant you were part of a bigger The BIS Library at the Society’s London (Gerry) Groves at BIS HQ in London for the family and so that also meant the opportunity headquarters contains all the back issues position of Spaceflight assistant editor and to attend many great events, not to mention a of Spaceflight from 1956 to the present in JBIS production editor. few parties and celebrations along the way. bound volumes. These, and other archival Andrew Wilson had been in the role Back in 1987, I worked on the BIS-hosted materials, can be accessed by members on previously and he eventually moved to ESA Brighton International Astronautical Congress making an appointment. where he is now head of publications at (IAC) – and survived the infamous hurricane! ESTEC in The Netherlands. In those days, working on print publications Always at the centre of the action, Spaceflight Editor Clive Simpson with NASA astronaut Kate Rubens. such as Spaceflight involved traditional Clive Simpson editorial mark-up, typesetting and paste-up, all very different and time-consuming compared to the streamlined computer operations of today. Gerry and I worked well together, introducing colour to the pages of Spaceflight for the first time and taking the magazine to a wider audience via bookstall sales in both the UK and United States. In 1990 I moved to the position of public relations manager with UK space company Matra Marconi Space in Portsmouth, before setting up my own media agency in 1995, supporting ESA, Eumetsat, Inmarsat and private space companies on writing and print projects for many years. During this time I continued to run the BIS telephone news service “Space Line” and had always kept in touch with Gerry. We would often chat for long periods at various times of the day and night when he called to ask my opinion on this or that aspect of an issue relating to the latest magazine. Then, in the summer of 2000, I received a phone call from BIS HQ to ask if I’d consider the role of Editor, as Gerald Groves had decided to take well-deserved retirement from

Spaceflight Vol 58 October 2016 385

376-385.indd 385 8/18/2016 11:04:02 AM spacefest SPACEFEST 7

By Chris Starr FBIS FRAS, IAAA Associate Member

Front row (l-r): Vance Brand; Alan Bean; Fred Haise; Walt Cunningham; Rusty Schweickart; Dave Scott; Charlie Duke; Dee O’Hara; Mike Collins; Al Worden; Jim McDivitt; Jim Lovell; Dick Gordon; Gene Cernan. Middle row (l-r): Charles F. ‘Chuck’ Dieterich; Rick Armstrong; Gerry Griffin; Sy Liebergot; Jerry Ross; Don Thomas; Nicole Stott; Eileen Collins; Rhea Seddon; Manfred ‘Dutch’ von Ehrenfried ; Glynn Lunney. Back row (l-r): Charlie Walker; Paul Weitz; Robert ‘Hoot’ Gibson; Jack Lousma; space suit from Nicole Stott’s ‘Space Suit Project’, in cooperation with MD Anderson’s Pediatric Cancer Center Spacefest/Novaspace.com, LLC

s I write this, it is Saturday 18 June through to the Apollo lunar programme and many of his colleagues and peers will gather and I have recently returned from Skylab, although sad to reflect on those who again as they did at this year’s event, which Spacefest 7 in Arizona. The Soyuz are no longer with us. Special tribute was paid welcomed no fewer than 15 of the Apollo- spacecraftA carrying British ESA astronaut in particular to Dr. Edgar Mitchell, Apollo 14 Skylab astronauts, and four Moonwalkers. Major Tim Peake has just touched down safely Lunar Module Pilot, who had been a charming Also present were many Shuttle and ISS on the steppes of Kazakhstan. There is great and friendly participant at every Spacefest so astronauts, including ‘newcomers’ – Robert celebration. Tim, his Russian and American far, always willing to share his experiences and ‘Hoot’ Gibson, Dr. Rhea Seddon, Don Thomas, colleagues and the whole international team passion with others. It is not certain that so and astronaut artists Nicole Stott and Ron behind Expeditions 46 and 47, are an inspiration Garan – as well as familiar faces from previous for all those across the world who have been Manfred ‘Dutch’ von Ehrenfried and Gerry Griffin sessions – Bruce McCandless, Charlie Walker, following the mission closely, especially the at the VIP Reception. Chris Starr Eileen Collins and space launch world record many school children and students in the UK holder Jerry Ross. who have been able to take part in the related There were plenty of opportunities to meet STEM outreach programme. the astronauts, including at the wonderfully There was a similar sense of elation and of relaxed and informal VIP reception, or at the “passing the torch” on to the next generation lunch and banquet organised by Novaspace. at Spacefest, which this year returned to They also took part in some of the excellent the beautiful desert setting of Starr Pass in panels, at which spellbound space enthusiasts Tucson, and played host to a record number of were able to share in their camaraderie and astronauts, mission control legends, scientists, pioneering achievements. It was appropriate, artists, historians and writers. The event, which too, that the panels included some of the ran from 9-12 June, was a fitting celebration leading members of the ground-breaking of the magnificent achievements of NASA’s Mission Control teams from the great Mercury manned and unmanned space programmes. through Skylab era. We also welcomed It was a special privilege to be able to meet back Dee O’Hara, “first nurse to NASA’s first and speak with so many pioneers from the astronauts”, who served throughout the ‘60s early days of human spaceflight, from Gemini, and up to Skylab and the first Shuttle mission.

386 Spaceflight Vol 58 October 2016

386-388.indd 386 8/18/2016 10:07:53 AM spacefest

A particular highlight was the fascinating journey through the early history of NASA presented by Manfred “Dutch” Von Ehrenfried, a guest at Spacefest for the first time. He joined the Mercury Control Centre at the age of 25 and Gene Kranz was his mentor. These were exciting times and all the mission designs, concepts and procedures were brand new, built from the bottom up by a team with an average age of just 27. As Dutch said, Flight Director Chris Kraft, whose concepts and leadership shaped Mercury Control Centre, was almost “an elderly gentleman at 35!” The achievements of Kraft, Kranz, Von Ehrenfried and so many others are the subject of a new full-length feature documentary, “Mission Control”, which was screened for the first time in Tucson. Following on from Mark IAAA and Artists’ group. Front (l-r): Michael Carroll (kneeling); Dr. Dan Durda; Lucy West-Binnall; Nicole Stewart Productions’ magnificent film “The Stott; Pamela Lee; Marilynn Flynn; Michelle Rouch; Ron Garan; Chris Calle; Dr. William K. Hartmann; Last Man On The Moon”, also shown again Ron Woods. Back (l-r): Douglas Shrock; Chris Starr; Earl Billick; Simon Kregar Jr; Doug Forrest; Dave in Tucson and currently on general release, Ginsberg. Chris Starr “Mission Control” is the latest space history masterpiece from producers Keith Haviland, since one was able, after seeing the film, to presented, on behalf of the Dawn Mission also one of the sponsors of Spacefest, and talk with flight directors and key members of Team, the prestigious Robert J. Collier Gareth Dodds. It is a moving and fitting tribute, the “Trench” teams – Chuck Dieterich, Gerry Trophy for “extraordinary achievements of Keith says, “to the guys from smokestack cities Griffin, Sy Liebergot, Glynn Lunney, Milt Heflin. orbiting and exploring protoplanet Vesta and rural backwaters who came together and We eagerly await its general release! and dwarf planet Ceres, and advancing put a man on the Moon”. Speaking of Mission the nation’s technological capabilities in Control in the film, NASA Flight Director pioneering new frontiers in space travel.” Courtenay MacMillan says “They built this And not least… Planetary science and the study of Earth- great institution out of nothing … they set the On the unmanned exploration and science analogues for our near neighbours were also standard, went through the fire for us and front, there were many outstanding talks, covered by Drs. Britney Schmidt, Pascal Lee demonstrated excellence everyday.” including updates on the James Webb Space and Jani Radebaugh, while Dr. Seth Shostak As with its predecessor, the cinematography, Telescope (Dr. Amber Straughn), New Horizons updated us on SETI. attention to detail and the personal accounts of (Dr. Leslie Young), and the Dawn mission (Dr. Of course, we would not be so familiar a golden age of human endeavour make this Marc Rayman). with the space programme without the space film very special. It was particularly poignant Marc arrived at Spacefest having just been historians, educators, broadcasters and bloggers – Dr. John M. Logsdon, Leonard The Inspirational Women in Science panel (l-r) Nick Howes (Spacefest Panel Organiser); Amy Shira David, Amy Shira Teitel and so many others – Teitel (Panel Moderator; space historian, writer, broadcaster and blogger); Dr. Amber Straughn who tirelessly research and share with us the (astrophysicist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Centre; Deputy Project Scientist for the James Webb detailed stories of exploration and pay homage Space Telescope); Dr. Jani Radebaugh (planetary scientist; Associate Professor of Geological Sciences to the efforts of the unseen individuals and at Brigham Young University); Dr. Beatrice E. A. Mueller (Senior Scientist, University of Arizona Planetary Science Institute); Dr. Leslie Young (South-West Research Institute, Boulder, Colorado; teams behind spectacular missions. New Horizons Deputy Project Scientist & Pluto Encounter Planning Team Lead); Nicole P. Stott; Al Spacefest was a rare opportunity to meet Hallonquist (space historian). Missing from photo were Don Davis and Jim Sciotti. Chris Starr an outstanding group of writers, who gave presentations on their works and were also available to sign and chat about them. These works included the growing catalogue of the magnificent Nebraska University Press “Outward Odyssey” series. With titles covering the early days of space flight, such as Michelle Evans’ “X-15 Rocket Plane” and “Into that Silent Sea” by series editor Colin Burgess and Francis French (Director of Education, San Diego Air & Space Museum), to Rick Houston’s “Wheels Stop – The Tragedies and Triumphs of the Space Shuttle Program 1986-2011”, NUP’s series really is “A People’s History of Spaceflight”. The talks, all excellent, are too many to mention individually here. However, stand-outs

Spaceflight Vol 58 October 2016 387

386-388.indd 387 8/18/2016 10:07:53 AM spacefest

Skylab 3 and Shuttle astronaut Jack Lousma with Mike Collins with Chris Starr. Chris Starr a young enthusiast at the Spacefest reception. Mark Usciak include Jay Gallentine’s highly entertaining and young or old, male or female. Space is for informative account of the sitting astronauts everyone. Apollo 11 Command Module Pilot first Apollo Moon landing. The fire was certainly of the secret Soviet Lunokhod Rover facility, Michael Collins, who attended this year both as burning bright in Tucson this June! featured in his recently published “Infinity an artist and astronaut, spoke of “carrying the Beckoned – Adventuring through the Inner fire” in his memorable and articulate account of For full details and biographies of the Solar System 1969-1989”; and renowned his role as an astronaut and the build-up to the participants, visit www.spacefest.info. artist and writer Michael Carroll, building on his series of collaborative planetary science The last and the next. Apollo 17 astronaut Gene Cernan with Leo Neumann. Eico Neumann publications to give us “On The Shores of Titan’s Farthest Sea”, a mystery thriller described by Jani Radebaugh as “a masterful weaving of art and science.” Michael is one of the many artists who give a human dimension to our visions of the cosmos, and enable us to share emotionally and intimately in the quest for space. This year, fellow IAAA founder Kim Poor’s Novaspace brought together the biggest Spacefest art show to date. Featuring the work of many leading IAAA members, as well as a number of talented new faces, it was very popular with the public. As always, there was a workshop where visitors could share in the magic of works being created by the artists, from astronaut portraits to planetary landscapes. This seventh edition of Spacefest was felt by many attendees to be the best one so far. It was certainly well-attended, and its success is a testimony to the hard work and inspiration of Kim and Sally and their dedicated team at Novaspace, as well as the extended family of sponsors and helpers from all over the world which has grown with each event. As always, there was a real sense of reaching out by all participants to inspire, pay forward, communicate and engage the public,

388 Spaceflight Vol 58 October 2016

386-388.indd 388 8/18/2016 10:07:54 AM reflection

FLASHBACK – October 1966

A regular feature looking back 50 years this month

he month began with NASA celebrating position at a designated work station took 80% its eighth anniversary, a period during of their energy, he said, adding concerns about which it had launched 17 astronauts the ability of future crewmembers to perform Tinto space on 15 crewed missions, returned the adequately without a significant increase in first data from the vicinity of Venus, received the capabilities of the life support system the first fly-by images from Mars, performed supported by appropriate tethers, restraints the first controlled descent to the surface of and footholds. the Moon, placed the first Lunar Orbiter around the Moon and accomplished a wide range 10-15 October 1966 of scientific “firsts” in near-space and deep- The 17th International Astronautical Federation space. Congress was held in Madrid, Spain, Future events would reveal that it was less beginning with an opening ceremony attended than 34 months away from putting the first by Prince Juan Carlos. During the week men on the Moon, on the third mission flown delegates learned of the first reported collision by astronauts to the gravity field of another in space, when two experimental gravity- world, and making the initial detailed studies gradient satellites launched by the Naval of a reusable Shuttle, plus planning to Research Laboratory in March 1965 locked send spacecraft to the outer planets with a booms before drifting apart. Engineers from destination in interstellar space. And all of that the Douglas Aircraft Company proposed use of accomplished before its eleventh birthday. Apollo-Saturn hardware to send spacecraft to The pace had been hectic and the investigate the asteroids with a view to mining Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators were achievements legion, technology defeating their resources, while legal presentations developed as power sources for lunar and pessimism and success trouncing scepticism. foresaw increased commercial activities which planetary missions, evidenced by this one for the But optimism was high and expectations could upset existing space law. NASA/ESA Cassini spacecraft. NASA unprecedented. Suddenly, or so it seemed, Reporting on physiological effects of space the future was rushing toward the present flight, NASA’s Dr Charles Berry optimistically the cryogenic reactants oxygen and hydrogen. and threatening to derail the forces seeking claimed there were minimal side effects from Fifty years on, Juno is the first solar-powered containment, the latter defined by falling long duration flights (by which he meant 8 spacecraft to reach Jupiter. budgets, overworked engineers and internal days). However, scientists from the University competition from several agencies seeking to of Sweden cautioned against plans for long 25 October 1966 control space. stays on lunar bases, suggesting that extended Russia’s Luna 12 (Ye6LF) spacecraft entered a But elsewhere space influenced the daily periods in low gravity may reduce tolerance 133 x 1,200 km orbit of the Moon with a period affairs of publicity-seeking politicians. In to 1g on Earth. One highlight was a narrated of 3 hr 25 min. Launched by an 8K78M rocket the Philippines, on 3 October, Ferdinand film of space dogs Veterok and Ugolyek, said three days earlier, the 1,620 kg Luna 12 carried Marcos sought to postpone the Asia summit to have lost one-third of third weight during 22 a similar package of instruments to those on conference planned for 18-24 October so days in space. Luna 11, which had failed to provide the high- that the Comsat Corporation could provide resolution imagery anticipated after reaching mass media coverage of the event in which 19 October 1966 lunar orbit on 27 August 1966. Entering orbit he was speaking, through its new Intelsat NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center on 24 August 1966, NASA’s Lunar Orbiter I II-A Pacific satellite; now we found out what awarded a contract to the Martin Company had been the second spacecraft to go into space applications were really for! But it for the design feasibility study on a 2,000 kW orbit about another world in space, after Lunar emphasised an early regard that space activity nuclear power system consisting of four Snap- 10 on 3 April 1966, but was the first to send was becoming an accepted tool of the modern 29 radioisotope-thermoelectric generators pictures from lunar orbit. world, attracting politicians in the way radio (RTGs). Marshall was looking at the possibility Luna 12 sent to Earth pictures with a resolution and television had done for the previous of using this source to power long-duration of 15-20 m from film developed on board, dried generation. It was no longer just an aim in itself human space flight missions following the and scanned for transmission. Images received but an enabling mechanism. Apollo programme. During the mid-1960s on 29 October showed the Sea of Rains and Also during this month, Richard Johnston, nuclear power sources were the means-of- the crater Aristarchus but no further pictures chief of the Crew Systems Division at the choice for spacecraft on long-duration, deep- were sent. Afterwards, Luna 12 was put into Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston urged space trajectories. At the time the performance a spin-stabilised roll for the operation of other work on a new and more developed suit of solar cells was inadequate for kilowatt-level science instruments measuring magnetic for space walking in weightlessness, citing power delivery and fuel cells were suitable for fields, radiation and micrometeoroid impacts. difficulties with astronauts conducting EVA flights lasting no longer than a month due to Contact was lost on 19 January 1967 after 302 on recent Gemini missions. Just maintaining the storability and quantity requirements for communication sessions.

Spaceflight Vol 58 October 2016 389

389.indd 389 8/18/2016 10:08:05 AM satellite digest

Satellite Digest is Spaceflight’s regular listing of world space launches. It is prepared by Geoff Richards using orbital data from Satellite Digest-525 the United States Strategic Command Space-Track.Org website.

This month we provide a description of where the various launch sites can be found, this one being the first and most famous: Baykonur. David Baker

Spacecraft International Date Launch Vehicle Mass Orbital Inclin. Period Perigee Apogee Notes Designation Site kg Epoch deg min km km Soyuz MS-01 2016-044A Jul 7.07 Baykonur Soyuz-FG 7,220 Jul 9.86 51.65 92.52 402 404 [1] Progress MS-03 2016-045A Jul 16.90 Baykonur Soyuz-U 7,281 Jul 18.89 51.64 92.52 401 404 [2] Dragon CRS 9 2016-046A Jul 18.20 ETR Falcon 9FT 10,700? Jul 20.53 51.64 92.52 401 404 [3] USA 269 2016-047A Jul 28.53 ETR Atlas V 421 5,000? Jul 29.47 18.67 648.68 1,107 35,799 [4]

Notes 1. Spacecraft with two-man, one-woman crew launched to the International Space Station, mission ISS-47S. Crew comprises Anatoli Ivanishin (Soyuz Commander, ISS flight engineer), Takuya Onishi (Soyuz/ISS flight engineer, JAXA astronaut) and Kathleen Rubins (Soyuz/ISS flight engineer, NASA astronaut). First flight of a new Soyuz version with improved communication, navigation and rendezvous systems. Spacecraft docked with ISS/Rassvet port on July 9.17. Crew are part of ISS Expeditions 48 and 49. 2. Unmanned freighter mission to the International Space Station, mission ISS-64P, with 2,405 kg of cargo. Spacecraft docked at ISS/Pirs port July 19.01. 3. Dragon freighter spacecraft, ISS Mission SpX-9, built and launched by SpaceX as part of NASA’s CRS programme for transport to ISS, with 1,790 kg of internal cargo including new experiments and 467 kg of unpressurised cargo: the IDA-2 docking adapter. Launch vehicle first stage successfully landed at LZ-1 back at the launch site. Spacecraft captured by the ISS arm July 20.46 and docked at the ISS/Harmony nadir port July 20.59. 4. Classified satellite, also known as NROL-61, is a payload for the NRO launched by ULA. Rumoured to be the first of a new series of fourth- generation Quasar Satellite Data System communications satellites to provide links with military satellites in low Earth orbit. Orbit is classified, transfer orbit given is from amateur trackers. Additions and Updates Designation Comments 1993-054A Navstar 34 (USA 94, SVN 35) manoeuvred to retirement orbit about June 7. 1995-016A Brasilsat B2 was relocated at 68°W June 30. 1997-061A Cassini performed its 122nd targeted fly-by of Titan, passing 976 km from the satellite, on July 25.42. 1999-059A Telstar 12 was relocated at 109°W July 7. 2000-001A DSCS 3B8 (USA 148) has been relocated from 150°E to 180°W, according to amateur trackers. 2000-028A Eutelsat 36A was manoeuvred off station at 70.5°E July 8 and is drifting to the east. 2002-040B Meteosat 8 was manoeuvred off station at 4°E July 4 and is drifting to the east. 2004-031A Amazonas 1/Hispasat 55W-1 was relocated back at 36°W July 6, presumably to reserve slot for Hispasat 36W-1. 2009-055A WorldView 2 shed eight fragments July 19, but is still operational. 2010-041B Kosmos 2465 (Uragan-M 737) was returned to maintenance status July 21. 2011-001A Elektro-L 1 was manoeuvred off station at 76°E July 13 and is drifting to the west. 2011-040A Juno performed its Jupiter orbit injection burn July 5.10 and entered a polar orbit from 3,200 to 8,000,000 km, period 53 days. 2012-040A Tianlian 1-03 was manoeuvred off station at 20°E July 1 and relocated at 10.5°E July 10 to support the forthcoming manned flight. 2014-027A USA 252 has been relocated from 144°W to 170°E, according to amateur trackers. 2015-039A Intelsat 34 is leased to Hispasat as Hispasat 55W-2, not Hispasat 55W-1 as stated in Satellite Digest 520. 2015-080A Progress MS-01 undocked from ISS/Pirs port July 1.23 and redocked July 1.25 to verify TORU manual remote control system operation with upgraded systems. It again undocked July 3.16 and was de-orbited over the Pacific Ocean July 3.29. 2016-004A Intelsat 29e was declared operational July 26.

390 Spaceflight Vol 58 October 2016

390-391.indd 390 8/18/2016 10:08:19 AM satellite digest

2016-011A Sentinel 3A was declared operational July 13. 2016-019B,C Two of the Lemur 2 Cubesats have been re-assigned. Lemur 2 DrMuzz is now 2016-019B and Lemur 2 Bridgeman is now 2016- 019C. 2016-030A,B Galileo Sat 14 and 13 (GSAT0211 and GSAT0210) have manoeuvred to slots A6 and A2 of the Galileo constellation. Add orbits: Jul 11.36 57.38° 844.66 min 23,217 km 23,227 km Jun 29.45 57.39° 844.66 min 23,216 km 23,228 km 2016-034A Kosmos 2517 (Geo-IK-2 12L) has manoeuvred, apparently to its operational orbit. Add orbit: Jul 27.84 99.28° 103.83 min 940 km 942 km 2016-035A Intelsat 31 was manoeuvred off its test station at 132°W July 14 and relocated at 95.1°W, co-located with Intelsat 30 and Galaxy 3C, July 26.

International Space Station activity Recently detailed orbital decays There were no orbital manoeuvres of ISS during July. International Object name Decay End-of-July orbital data: Jul 31.82 51.64° 92.51 min 401 km 404 km Designation 1998-067GJ Flock 1e-7 Jul 16.9 Below: Declared operational on 13 July, the European Space Agency’s Sentinel-3 is arguably the 1998-067GM Flock 1e-6 Jul 21.0 most comprehensive of all the Sentinel missions for Europe’s Copernicus programme. Carrying 1998-067GT Flock 1e-14 Jul 31.0 a suite of state-of-the-art instruments, it provides systematic measurements of Earth’s oceans, 2015-080A Progress MS-01 Jul 3.32 land, ice and atmosphere to monitor and understand large-scale global dynamics and provide critical information for ocean and weather forecasting. ESA 2016-023E Shijian 10 Jul 1.54

Orbital Launch Sites At lis of all sites used up to 2016 for orbital launch attempts, including airfields used as take-off points for air-launched vehicles. First column shows abbreviations used in Satellite Digest. Alcântara, Maranhão, Brazil Omelek Island, Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands Barents Sea, near Murmansk, Russia (submarines) Pacific Ocean (Ocean Odyssey platform) Baykonur Cosmodrome, Leninsk/Tyuratam, Kazakhstan Palmachim Air Force Base, Yavne, Israel Bucholz Army Airfield, Kwajalein Island, Marshall Islands Plesetsk, Arkhangelsk, Russia CSG Centre Spatial Guyanais, Kourou, French Guiana San Marco Platform, Ungwana (Formosa) Bay, Kenya China Lake, California, USA Semnan, Iran Dombarovskiy/Yasniy, Orenburg, Russia Sohae, DPR Korea ETR/KSC Eastern Test Range, Kennedy Space Center/Cape Canaveral AFS, SHAR Sriharikota High Altitude Range (Satish Dhawan Space Centre), Florida, USA Andhra Pradesh, India Edwards AFB, California, USA Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre, Shanxi, PRC Gando Air Base, Gran Canaria, Spain Tanegashima, Kyushu, Japan Hammaguir, Algeria Tonghae, Musudan-ri, DPR Korea Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre, Gansu, PRC Vostochny/Svobodny, Amur, Russia Kagoshima/Uchinoura, Kyushu, Japan Wallops Flight Facility/MARS, Wallops Island, Virginia, USA Kapustin Yar, Volgograd, Astrakhan, Russia Wenchang Satellite Launch Centre, Hainan Island, PRC Western Test Range, Vandenberg AFB/Port Arguello NMF, KTF Kauai Test Facility, Barking Sands, Kauai, Hawaii, USA WTR California, USA Kodiak Island, Alaska, USA Woomera, Australia Naro Space Centre, Goheung, Republic of Korea Xichang Satellite Launch Centre, Sichuan, PRC NB: ETR and WTR have gone through several name changes over the years and are currently the Eastern and Western Ranges.

Spaceflight Vol 58 October 2016 391

390-391.indd 391 8/18/2016 10:08:20 AM society news The BIS Space Conference

he highlight of what proved to be a influence necessary to put forward new of the ExoMars Rover programme, he went highly successful and enjoyable BIS ideas. His time at the Treasury gave him the on to describe how ESA, instead of crumbling Space Conference at Charterhouse necessary background to argue effectively as they might have done previously, had the TSchool 21-23 July, was considered, by most for the space sector and the embryonic determination and confidence to persevere of the 100 delegates, to be the talk on the Space Agency. He explained that the and decided to work with Russia on the second day by Lord David Willetts, Minister for Treasury is always looking for a return on its launch and landing systems. Universities and Science from 2010 to 2014. investment and he was able to tell them that Lord Willetts praised the UK’s efforts in This was followed by the panel session every penny invested in the space sector, remote sensing and described how he had when Lord Willetts was joined by Patrick even via ESA, would be spent in the UK, pointed out how important satellite information Wood, CEO, Surrey Satellite Technology securing jobs and often additional funds from was to all government departments and the Ltd, Richard Varvill, Technical Director, Chief programme extensions or repeat orders. His growing need for high quality remote sensing Designer and a Founder of Reaction Engines, thoughtful advocacy was essential in making data for a myriad of purposes, in particular Ros Azouzi, Careers and Education Manager, the case for investment in the Space sector for Environment Agencies and City and Town Royal Aeronautical Society and Phil Davies, and in obtaining sustained and increasing planners in assessing and mitigating the risk Managing Director, Deimos Space UK and funding. of flooding. Chair of the Space Group, RAe Soc, who also Lord Willetts in his normal relaxed yet In discussing the UK’s Space expertise in chaired the panel. engaging manner obviously enjoyed his the Defence role, he recounted the story of Lord Willetts was one of the best Space audience revealing his reaction to the how a calm English voice from Fylingdales Ministers the UK has ever had. As Minister controversial Paxman interview with Tim reassured the over excited crew of an and MP for Havant he had attended Cabinet Peake in 2013 and hinting that this may American Command Centre that a suspect and had ensured the future of the UK Space have led to “changes” in the Newsnight rocket launch from Siberia was in fact an Agency which had been only recently formed team. He mentioned how, having brought the asteroid shower. by his predecessor, Lord Drayson. The possible impact of Solar activity or Space Rather than taking questions at the end of choice of David Willetts for this post was very weather on the 2012 London Olympics to the his talk, Lord Willetts joined in the lively panel fortuitous for the space sector as he was attention of the government, the Met. Office discussion with Patrick Wood, Phil Davies, ideally equipped for the post. was given responsibility for monitoring space Richard Varvill and Ros Azouzi. Questions His experience in the Number 10 policy weather. flew in thick and fast to be quickly picked up unit ensured that he had the political Though he criticised NASA for pulling out by Lord Willetts and other members of the

392 Spaceflight Vol 58 October 2016

392-397.indd 392 8/18/2016 10:08:34 AM society news

panel. They ranged from, “where do we go from here?” to the tough issue of Brexit and its possible impact on the space sector. All this was of course captured on video and should soon be available in the Members- only area of the BIS website along with all the other talks in the packed three-day programme. With six more talks in two parallels to follow, the delegates were given the chance to unwind in the evening with a reception in the cloistered Scholar’s Court. Here Kelvin Long, Executive Director of I4IS, the Initiative for Interstellar Studies, thanked Terry Regan for his magnificent and intricate model of the huge BIS Daedalus interstellar spacecraft and handed it over to Mark Hempsell, BIS President, for safekeeping. The 60 or so delegates then moved through to the oak- panelled Gownboys Dining Room for a most Tea on the lawn outside the Modern Languages Building at Charterhouse, made possible by excellent enjoyable formal dinner. weather. Alistair Scott But recovery from the night before had to be swift as there was another full day of in the USA and the many cosmonauts from Engines, Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd, talks to go and again two parallels to choose Russia, the BIS Conference had something Airborne Engineering and Alan Bond for their from. With its fascinating mix of space history, for everyone. generous support which allowed us to ‘hit the current projects like Rosetta/Philae and We must thank Dave Wright for the ground running’! Skylon, future programmes for exploring the programme and for again bringing us back Dave Wright with Alistair Scott planets and Interstellar flight and tributes to to the majestic Charterhouse School and Below: Sixty members gathered at Scholars those who had made it all possible, including Gill Norman, Ben Jones, Ralph Timberlake, Court, Charterhouse, for a formal dinner which Ken Gatland, Roy Dommett, Eric (Winkle) Steve Salmon and their team of volunteers for took place on the evening of 22 July. The dinner Brown and Colin Pillinger in the UK, Robert making it all happen. Finally we owe a great itself was held in the Gownboys Dining Room. Goddard, John Newcomb and the Apollo team debt of gratitude to our sponsors Reaction Alistair Scott

Spaceflight Vol 58 October 2016 393

392-397.indd 393 8/18/2016 10:08:35 AM society news A Labour of Love ohn Newcomb died suddenly in the middle of a game of tennis after agreeing to speak at Charterhouse. JHe had written an excellent book, “A Bunch of Plumbers,” about his career working for NASA. Then his wife and book editor offered to fulfill his commitment and speak at the BIS Space Conference. As his wife Peggy stood at the podium the audience were aware that this was an extraordinary presentation. Peggy’s presentation was about mathematics, technology, love and sacrifice. Peggy told us hesitantly at first the story her husband had written. John Newcomb was a “country boy” who set his heart on working at Langley. He joined as NASA was being formed and he soon found himself at Wallops Island, arriving in a landing craft and living Peggy Newcomb with her grandson Bryan (left) and Steve Salmon during the formal evening on the in a bunkhouse. But he was learning how second day. Alistair Scott to launch rockets instructed by a man who conclusion that it won’t work. The Lunar we glimpsed the often untold part of the story. had already lost an arm in a launch! John Orbiter was proved to be an outstandingly Under tremendous pressure, working was selected to work on the Lunar Orbiter successful mission taking the first Earthrise incredible hours, young engineers and spacecraft, which would take the vital pictures picture before the colour picture from Apollo scientists struggled to solve the myriad that would enable NASA to choose the landing 8. challenges of the mission. Two of Newcomb’s site for Apollo. In the long shadow of the public’s love close colleagues cracked under the strain, Nobel Laureate Professor Harold Urey affair with Apollo, Viking can appear to be one had a breakdown and another committed was a big beast in the American scientific but postscript. In Newcomb’s account we suicide. Viking’s triumph was not a bloodless establishment. He was not impressed by glimpse another story rich in drama and victory. the choice of Langley to lead the project technical detail. Jim Martin an inspiring leader We thank Peggy Newcomb for attending protesting that they were just a “Bunch of and manager, a man who hung up on the the BIS Space Conference and sharing with Plumbers.” Despite Urey’s lobbying, Langley President because he was too busy to talk. us her husband’s story. We were privileged to kept the project and at Peggy’s insistence However, with Peggy telling the story for John hear you. John had found the title of his memoir. The team was thrown in at the deep end. It was Newcomb’s own painstaking mathematics spreading from one end of a Journal of the British conference room to the other which would Interplanetary Society decide the choice of contractor. However, JBIS in many histories the choice of contractor, Boeing, would hardly rate a mention. Here Newcomb opens the door allowing us to view the nerve shredding efforts to test Hughes’ camera stabilisation algorithm. Newcomb, a brilliant young mathematician, on his own writing page after page of The February/March 2016 issue of the Journal of the British Interplanetary Society is now mathematics aware that an entire team from available and contains the following papers: Hughes are looking for the smallest flaw to A Roadmap to Interstellar Flight pounce and negate his, for them, disastrous The Laser Starway: A Light Bridge to the Closest Stars BIS Library A Kardasev III Approach to the Extra-Solar Planetary System Colonization ET Probes - Looking Here as Well as There The Society’s specialist space and astronautics library is open Monday Stellified Planets and Brown Dwarfs as Novel Dysonian SETI Signatures to Friday between 10.30 and 15.30 Unstable Equilibrium Hypothesis: A Consideration of Ultra-Relativistic and Faster than Light Interstellar Spaceflight and 18.50 when there is an evening Copies of JBIS, priced at £15 for members, £40 to non-members plus P&P. lecture. Pre-booking is not required but Full list of available issues – www.bis-space.com/eshop/products-page/publications/jbis/ please check in advance whether the Back issues are also available and can be obtained from The British Interplanetary Society, library is already in use. Arthur C Clarke House, 27/29 South Lambeth Road, London, SW8 1SZ, England

394 Spaceflight Vol 58 October 2016

392-397.indd 394 8/18/2016 10:08:35 AM society news The Society’s 71st AGM

he idea was to hold the meeting outside London to demonstrate the BIS’s commitment to the regions, and Tas such Members and Fellows from the West Midlands Group played an important part in holding this year’s AGM at RAF Museum Cosford on 30 July, a venue familiar to many after previous BIS meetings and conferences. Our Guest of Honour was Alan Bond, founder of Reaction Engines Limited. The AGM was chaired by BIS President Mark Hempsell. The meeting is normally a routine affair, but this year’s was notable as, perhaps for the first time in the Society’s history, the President was sponsored to wear novelty dog slippers. This lightened the proceedings somewhat and raised a fair amount of money for the BIS. It was new Executive Secretary Gill Norman’s first AGM, and she kept a professional hold on proceedings, despite the distracting presidential footwear. After the AGM, a discussion was held Master modelmaker Mat Irvine brought K9 to the AGM, attracting the attention of Henry Philp, 12 (left) on current developments and plans for and his brother Will, 9. Colin Philp the Society, and Robin Tucker, the BIS’s marketing strategy adviser, outlined the Afterwards, Members picnicked and money for the Society. Master model maker results of the Vision and Strategy meeting socialised in the sunshine on the lawn and special effects supervisor Mat Irvine gave held at the HQ in March. outside the Conference Room. The Summer an entertaining talk on his work in film and TV, Get-Together followed the format of Patrick’s with help from Doctor Who’s K-9. The robot Mark Hempsell doing a sponsored distraction in Picnic, held in the garden of Sir Patrick dog toured the conference room by radio dog slippers! Colin Philp Moore’s house in Selsey in 2011 and 2012. control, acknowledging guests with rotating An afternoon of talks followed. Council head antenna. Member Rod Woodcock, with help from past The final talk was by Jerry Stone, with an President John Harlow, gave talks on Skybolt enjoyable look at the work of Robert Goddard and Blue Steel under the Avro Vulcan in the on the 90th anniversary of the launch of the Museum’s Cold War exhibition. The talks world’s first liquid-fuelled rocket. attracted interest from members of the general A huge thank you to all the speakers and public. everyone who made the event a success, and A highlight was a black powder rocket watch this space for future regional AGMs. motor firing, organised by BIS West Midlands’ Colin Philp rocketeers Mark Perman and Bob Stanton, following stringent safety guidelines, with Rocketeers Mark Perman (background) with Bob, Ellie, Amelia and Callum Stanton. Colin Philp all spectators kept at a safe distance of 7 metres. Mark donned his official Range Safety Officer’s hi-vis vest. Bob wore a rocketeer’s traditional duffle coat and wellies and was assisted by his family as the crowd gave the countdown. All went to plan as the rocket burst into life, firing vertically into the air to register its thrust on kitchen weighing scales, accompanied by enthusiastic applause. Earlier Bob and Mark gave a talk on the work of the West Midlands branch, and their plans for the future. Past President Alistair Scott and his wife Felicity organised a space raffle to raise

Spaceflight Vol 58 October 2016 395

392-397.indd 395 8/18/2016 10:08:36 AM society news Removing debris n Tuesday 5 July, the BIS in London was delighted to host an evening presentation by Professor Richard OCrowther, Chief Engineer of the UK Space Agency. The title of his talk was “Protecting Space for Future Generations”, all about the problems arising from space debris. Professor Crowther is an international authority on the subject, having been Chair of the Inter-Agency Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) from 2015-2016 and Head of the UK Delegation to the United Nations Committee of Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN COPUOS). Despite (or because?) of this, his presentation was accessible and to the point, demonstrating the issues with some fascinating “whizzy” graphics showing for Professor Richard Crowther receives a BIS tie from Stewart Eves. Robin Brand example the orbits of the at least 10,000 objects currently in orbit around the Earth, and graphs showing the rate of increase of such objects. mitigating the danger from high-speed space the members for supper at the usual retreat Richard introduced the concepts of debris of different sizes. “The Riverside”, a watering hole next to the Congested, Competed and Contested space Afterwards, he answered questions from Thames, an excellent opportunity to chat to in terms of growth in the space population, the floor, and members we able to ask more him on a more informal basis, and find out the competition for orbital slots/spectrum, about some of the issues, including the further about this most topical of subjects. and the possibility of an arms race in outer practical and political problems in designing As one of the audience said “it’s good that space. He explained how governments are and using dedicated spacecraft to try to the UK now has a Space Agency and great positioning themselves to respond regarding intercept and remove objects large and small that its Chief Engineer was able to come and Safety, Sustainability and Security, as well as from orbit. talk to the Society”. some of the practical problems in tracking and Finally, Professor Crowther joined some of Robin Brand The Sokol Spacesuit n 12 July 2016 I was pleased to one of the longest and most interesting and and bulky item to put into the tiny, and fully introduce Dr. Olesya Myakonkaya informative Q&A sessions I have known. pressurised spacecraft. Things had to change to an enthusiastic audience at the The video should be on our website by fast if Russia was to keep up in the Space OSociety’s headquarters. Dr. Myakonkaya the time you read this, but I will attempt to Race. had come all the way from Moscow to tell summarise. But they didn’t have to start from scratch. us about the now famous Russian Sokol Success through failure – Olesya’s story They already had ideas of what a spacesuit Spacesuit. Well, to be more precise, from began with the tragic accident in 1971 when should look like from the science fiction Russia’s Mendeleev University via Bristol the 3-man crew of Soyuz 11 died on their world, particularly from the often-amusing University where she gained a Ph.D. in return after a 3 week stay on the Salyut 1935 “Cosmic Voyage” film on which Nanomaterials. Space Station. A pressure valve had failed! Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, the father of Russian In her job as a material scientist with a Apparently Sergei Korolev had, until then, space and rocketry, was the scientific adviser major pharmaceutical company she spends considered spacesuits an unnecessary and more realistically from high altitude some of her time coordinating activities with leading universities and supporting New BIS Members the company’s “Science in Education” Svend Hinsch, Bremen, Germany John Grove, Armagh, Northern Ireland initiative. Most recently, wearing her “science Roger Longstaff,Essex, UK William Whitaker, London, UK communicator” hat, she guided visitors around Arooj Shah, Middlesex, UK Sheila Jones, Somerset, UK the Cosmonauts Exhibition at the Science Robert Pleming, Hampshire, UK Murray Sandeman, East Sussex, UK Museum and supported the 25th Anniversary John Chinner, Hampshire, UK Nathan Selman, Surrey, UK celebration of Helen Sharman’s trip to the Mir Jan Dekker, Bosch en Duin, Netherlands Andreas Hauschke, Germany Space Station and our Russia/China Technical David Humphreys, Buckinghamshire, UK Richard Newlands, Paisley, UK Forum that followed. Steven Rose, Oxfordshire, UK Temitayo Akindeinde, West Midlands, UK Olesya held the audience in the palm of Benjamin Foskett, Somerset, UK Avtar Birah, Leicester, UK her hand from start to finish, ending with

396 Spaceflight Vol 58 October 2016

392-397.indd 396 8/18/2016 10:08:36 AM society news

balloon flights. Yevgeny Chertovsky was the inventor of the first pressure suits in 1931 and he also coined the Russian name for a spacesuit, “skafander” from the Greek words skaf, for “ship” and Andros, for “man”. But again it took a tragic accident, when a gondola broke away from its balloon, to force designers to make the old leather and chain mail suits more flexible with orange-peel jointed limbs. Then came rubberised cotton layered pressure suits with heating and separate life support systems. As a result, by the time Korolev required pressurised spacesuits in the 1960s, Russia had almost 30 years experience and several different designs, some with separate helmets and warm woollen suits and others with full body protection. Olesya used a fascinating film to show Olesya Myankonaya gripped her audience with a talk about the Sokol suit. Alistair Scott the Zvezda factory in the 1950s and the spacesuits still being made there today. and remove the ejection seats and then when and is only half the pressure of the Sokol’s 40 Yuri Gagarin may have been their first the US gloves were reverse-engineered. kPascals. real spacesuit customer in 1961, but Ivan However it has been considered by many Finally I must thank Olesya for an excellent Ivanovich, a dummy with a mouse cage in to be a better suit, more user-friendly and talk on a fascinating subject and also Heather his chest, was there before him and several much quicker and easier to put on than the Macrae for lending us the real Sokol suit for hundred have followed since. American equivalent which uses more up-to- the evening and her colleagues from UCL The design of the Sokol suit has hardly date materials, but zips up the back and is and the Science Museum for cleaning and changed over the years, only when it was really a two-man job to put on. Used on the repairing it. decided to land the Soyuz capsule complete Shuttle, the US suit has a separate helmet Alistair Scott Starship Engineer Workshops 12-13 November 2016 BIS, 27/29 South Lambeth Road, London, SW8 1SZ

n collaboration with the British fascinating starship concepts, but how other inspirational examples of interstellar Interplanetary Society, the Initiative for realistic are they? In this day course we will vessels. Interstellar Studies will deliver updated examine and evaluate the laser-sails in “The IStarship Engineer workshop courses on two Mote in Gods Eye (Larry Niven and Jerry For further information on the events consecutive one-day events. Held at BIS HQ Pournelle), Torch Ships in “Time for the Stars” contact the team at: [email protected] in London, each will be different and important (Robert Heinlein), Quantum Ramjets in “The or visit www.i4is.org for more details. in its own way. Songs of Distant Earth” (Arthur C Clarke) and

12 November: Starship Engineer Aims to give a grounding in interstellar studies. It starts from considering the Space Chronicle essential requirements to giving an overview of different spacecraft systems, then takes the Space Chronicle, Suppl. 2, 2016 is now available and contains the following papers: audience on a journey through several actual starship design studies. We use examples The BIS Soviet/Chinese Technical Forum - A Brief History (1980-2015) from the literature, but focus on two specific Skybolt, Blue Steel & Politics! A Personal View - Part II case studies, that of fusion and laser-sail Britain’s First Space Rocket propulsion, as plausible ways by which we Copies of Space Chronicle, priced at £15 for members, £20 to non-members, may someday reach the stars. P&P: UK £1.50, Europe & Rest of the World £3.50 Full list of available issues – www.bis-space.com/eshop/products-page/publications/space-chronicle/ Back issues are also available and can be obtained from The British Interplanetary Society 13 November: Science Fiction Starships 27/29 South Lambeth Road, London, SW8 1SZ, England The works of science fiction literature have

Spaceflight Vol 58 October 2016 397

392-397.indd 397 8/18/2016 10:08:36 AM what’s on

BIS Belgium Annual Space Symposium 2016 BIS Lectures and Meetings 29 October 2016, 2 pm

The UK Contribution to Understanding the Space Venue: CC De Ploter, Ternat, Belgium Domain On 29th October 2016 at 2 p.m., the Belgian branch of the BIS will 15 September 2016, 7 - 8.30 pm organize its third afternoon with lectures. From now on this event will also be called the BIS Belgium Annual Space Symposium. Just as the Speaker: Sqn Ldr Ralph ‘Dinz’ Dinsley BA (Hons) MA, RAF two previous times, this event will take place in the cultural centre “De The importance of space to both society in general, and more specifically Ploter” in Ternat, about 15 km west of Brussels. It is easily accessible by to the military, is well documented. However as the domain becomes public transport: Ternat has a train station within walking distance from more congested, contested and competitive how do you assure access the cultural centre. to space and the applications it provides? This presentation will focus on To make the 2016 symposium a success, we need a few people that the RAF’s role in developing indigenous Space Domain Awareness by are willing to give a presentation this year. Presentations are welcome exploring past, current and future capabilities. Sqn Ldr Dinsley will touch in Dutch, English or French. There is a laptop and beamer available to on the history of surveillance of space, particularly the momentous role show Powerpoint presentations and DVD movies. If you would like to the UK has played in the almost 60 years since the launch of Sputnik, submit a topic for a presentation please contact us via bis.belgium@ before exploring the operational missions of both RAF Fylingdales and telenet.be. the developing role of the UK Space Operations Centre (UK SpOC). Formed in 2008, the UK SpOC’s mission is to maximise space control and space force enhancement support capability to understand and exploit Film – Rocket Flight the space domain, to protect our access to critical space capabilities, defend our national interests, and integrate space control into UK military 26 November 2016 operations. Venue: The Gardeners Arms, Vines Lane, Droitwich, WR9 8LU Space Domain Awareness is the ability to detect, track, and characterise passive and active space objects, and, through fusion with understanding The rocket and missile historian John Harlow MBE will introduce a rarely the space environment, creating Space Situational Awareness. Due to seen film Rocket Flight. The film, made by the RAF in 1945, details the the significance of space systems and their applications, coupled with the development of rockets and missiles in Germany before and during the enormity of developing Space Situational Awareness, Sqn Ldr Dinsley will Second World War. There will be a discussion afterwards on the film and discuss the need for international cooperation. Through specific military, the significance of the German work in relation to rockets and missile civil and commercial programmes, organisations are mission sharing in development post World War II. order to lessen the burden on one single nation or organisation. The presentation will conclude with a brief examination of the developing To cover the cost of the film there will be an admission charge of £6.00 concept of space traffic management. (payable on the day).

Space Night 2016 Non-BIS Events 5 October 2016, 5-8 pm New Scientist Live Venue: The Hive, Sawmill Walk, The Butts,Worcester, WR1 3PD 22-25 September 2016 Details of Talks/Activities and Competition coming soon. Please check Venue: ExCel London the BIS website for updates. Website: www.newscientistlive.com For four days this September, New Scientist Live will be like nowhere else Designing Against Space Flight Disaster on Earth. The inaugural New Scientist Live event, courtesy of the team 7 October 2016, 7.30 pm behind the world’s most popular science weekly, is a four-day festival of ideas and discovery taking place at ExCeL London. Venue: Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institute, 16-18 Queen Rooted in the biggest, best and most provocative science that touches Square, Bath, BA1 2HN all areas of human life, the show will feature over 100 exhibitors, 120 speakers, 5 theatres and 4 immersive zones covering Brain & The talk will review past space flight disasters, their causes and the Body, Technology, Earth and The Cosmos to showcase how science, lessons learned from them. The talk will then go on to describe the technology and engineering drive our economy, shape our culture and current space flight safety risk management process, and the impact this improve our lives. has on system design and operation. The talk will conclude by identifying the space flight safety risk reduction challenges for the future. Lectures RISpace 2016 Venue: BIS HQ, 27/29 South Lambeth Road, London, SW8 1SZ, unless otherwise stated. 24-27 October 2016 Members can attend free of charge. Places must be booked in advance, Venue: Royal Society, London online or by post. Each member may also obtain a free ticket for one guest subject to availability of space. The BIS-organised 14th Reinventing Space Conference and Exhibition will be held between Monday 24 and Thursday 27 October 2016 at the Non-Members are able to attend the Society’s lectures for a fee. You Royal Society in London. The focus of the 2016 conference will be on can order a ticket online or by post (please make cheques payable to the how technology trends are leading to the increasing commercialisation British Interplanetary Society). If oversubscribed Society Members will of space, including low cost launch systems, mega-constellations, and a be given priority. range of novel satellite applications, both in LEO and beyond. If applying via our website the confirmation receipt is your entry ticket. RISpace brings together industry, agency, government, financiers, If, for reasons outside its control, the Society is required to change the date academia and end users in the unparalleled, catalytic environment of or topic of a meeting, every effort will be made to avoid inconvenience to a major London scientific institution. The conference and exhibition is attendees either by notice of change in Spaceflight/JBIS, on our website organised by the British Interplanetary Society. or by special advice to each participant.

Readers are reminded that these Notices contain only a reduced description of the event. Full details can be found online: www.bis-space.com/whats-on

398 Spaceflight Vol 58 October 2016

398.indd 398 8/18/2016 10:08:54 AM The British Interplanetary Society SPECIAL OFFER Receive 3 free 2016 issues when new members join for 2017 Join online by going to www.bis-space.com/join or fill in this form Why not take a digital subscription where a PDF version of your chosen publication(s) is delivered to your inbox each month? Go to www.bis-space.com/digital I apply for Membership of the British Interplanetary Society from October 2016 - December 2017. My payment is for: Member Member over 65 Member under 22 Student

I require copies of Spaceflight JBIS Space Chronicle Gift Aid I want The British Interplanetary Society to reclaim tax on my annual subscription and/or donation made

Today In the past 4 years In the future I confirm I have paid or will pay an amount of Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax for each tax year (6 April to 5 April) that is at least equal to the amount of tax that all the charities that I donate to will reclaim on my gifts for that tax year. I understand that other taxes such as VAT and Council Tax do not qualify. I understand the British Interplanetary Society will reclaim 25p of tax on every £1 that I give. Please notify the charity if you: Want to cancel this declaration; Change your name or home address; No longer pay sufficient tax on your income and/or capital gains. If you pay Income Tax at the higher or additional rate and want to receive the additional tax relief due to you, you must include all your Gift Aid donations on your Self Assessment tax return or ask HM Revenue and Customs to adjust your tax code.

Title:...... Name:...... Date of Birth:......

Address:......

......

Daytime Tel. No:...... Mobile:......

Email:......

Signature:...... Date:...... The Society accepts payment by Sterling cash*/cheque and credit/debit cards. Cards accepted are shown below. Please do not send credit/debit card details via email. *Sending cash is at your own risk. It is advisable to use registered post. By joining the Society you are confirming your agreement to abide by the rules of the Society. Credit/Debit Card

Card Number...... Issue Date...... Expiry Date......

Issue No...... Sec No/CSC/CVC...... Signature...... Date...... Sterling Cheque I enclose a Sterling cheque for £...... made payable to BIS. Subscription Fees Spaceflight JBIS Spaceflight Spaceflight JBIS Spaceflight, JBIS UK Residents Only Only & JBIS & Space Chronicle & Space Chronicle & Space Chronicle Member £69.00 £69.00 £115.00 £96.00 £96.00 £142.00 Member under 22/Student £24.00 £24.00 £70.00 £51.00 £51.00 £97.00 Member over 65 £46.00 £46.00 £92.00 £73.00 £73.00 £119.00 Non-UK Residents Member £75.00 £75.00 £127.00 £103.50 £103.50 £155.50 Member under 22/Student £30.00 £30.00 £82.00 £58.50 £58.50 £110.50 Member over 65 £52.00 £52.00 £104.00 £80.50 £80.50 £132.50 Digital subscription rates are available, please go to www.bis-space.com/digital Return to The British Interplanetary Society, 27/29 South Lambeth Road, London, SW8 1SZ, England Offer ends 30 November 2016

399.indd 399 8/18/2016 10:09:32 AM Apollo Special The British Interplanetary Society From Imagination to Reality SPECIAL OFFER JOIN NOW!

Your BIS membership includes: • Monthly issues of Spaceflight, the world’s leading space magazine, or JBIS, the global leader in peer-reviewed astronautical papers and our seminal history journal Chronicle is available for a supplementary fee • Access to a members-only website page with frequent new material including videos, lectures and reports • Membership of a worldwide network of like-minded people, uniting space industry professionals, enthusiasts and students • The opportunity to meet leading figures in space science, technology and exploration, including astronauts, with free entry to exciting evening talks (also available to members online) • Reduced rates to BIS workshops and social events meeting astronauts, scientists, engineers and opinion shapers at regular meetings • Access to the BIS library, one of the world’s most comprehensive astronautical collections including books, technical reports, journals and a full backlog of all the BIS’ publications • Odyssey, the BIS members’ e-magazine featuring interviews and articles, Society news and events with special articles covering sci-fi, art and a range of subjects linked to space and astronautics. Six issues per year. See p399 for an application form, visit our website or write for an application form to: British Interplanetary Society, 27/29 South Lambeth Road, London, SW8 1SZ, UK Join online at www.bis-space.com

400 Spaceflight Vol 55 January 2013

400.indd 400 8/18/2016 10:11:09 AM