Spaceflight A British Interplanetary Society Publication Mars UK boosts options space spending NASA’s Radiation Atlantis threats display Shuttle: icon of an age Vol 60 No 8 September 2017 www.bis-space.com CONTENTS Editor: Published by the British Interplanetary Society David Baker, PhD, BSc, FBIS, FRHS Sub-editor: Volume 60 No. 9 September 2017 Ann Page Production Assistant: 331-334 Living with the Legend Ben Jones Author of the seminal work on NASA’s Space Shuttle, Dennis Jenkins describes how he came to follow the programme through work and, as Spaceflight Promotion: a genuine enthusiast, create the massive three-volume history of its Gillian Norman design evolution and engineering. Spaceflight Arthur C. Clarke House, 334 An icon immortalised 27/29 South Lambeth Road, Laurence Withers recounts a visit to the Kennedy Space Center where he London, SW8 1SZ, England. missed a launch and came across the Space Shuttle Atlantis, more by Tel: +44 (0)20 7735 3160 Fax: +44 (0)20 7582 7167 mistake than by pre-planning, to impress and astound with its display of Email: [email protected] space artefacts. www.bis-space.com 336-342 Evaluating Mars Programme Designs ADVERTISING Stephen Ashworth has a particular view on Mars missions and judges a Tel: +44 (0)1424 883401 range of potential expeditionary modes to comment on the architecture Email: [email protected] being discussed by government agencies DISTRIBUTION and commercial providers alike. Spaceflight may be received worldwide by mail through membership of the British Interplanetary Society. Details including Library subscriptions are available from the above address. * * * Spaceflight is obtainable from UK newsagents and other retail outlets in many countries. In the event of difficulty contact: Warners Group Distribution, The Maltings, Manor Lane, Bourne, Lincolnshire PE10 9PH, England. Tel: +44 (0)1778 391 000 Fax: +44 (0)1778 393 668 * * * 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 348 Successful Orion Abort Motor Test views of the Editor or the Council of the British Space historian and lecturer Joel Powell motored across to Utah to feel Interplanetary Society. the power of the Orion abort motor, which was tested for the first time * * * on 15 June. Back issues of Spaceflight are available from the Society. For details of issues and prices go to www.bis-space.com or send an sae to the Regular Features address at top. 324-326 News Analysis – UK boosts space spending – Factchecker update * * * Published monthly by the British Interplanetary Society. Registered Company No: 402498. 325 A Letter from the Editor Registered Charity No: 250556. Printed in the UK by Latimer Trend & Company Ltd. 327 Briefing notes – news shorts from around the world * * * Copyright © British Interplanetary Society 2017 ISSN 0038-6340. All rights reserved. 328-330 ISS Report – 9 June - 8 July 2017 No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, 344-347 Satellite Digest – 536 June 2017 electronic or mechanical, including photo- copying or recording by any information storage or retrieval system without written permission 350-351 Flashback – A regular feature looking back 50 years ago this month from the Publishers. Photocopying permitted by license only. 353 Obituary – Dr Charles Arthur Lundquist 1928-2017 * * * The British Interplanetary Society is a company 354-357 Society News – A visit to Spadeadam – Space at Cosford limited by guarantee. Mission 358 What’s On The British Interplanetary Society promotes the exploration and use of space for the benefit of humanity, by connecting people to create, educate and inspire, and advance knowledge in Cover image: Space Shuttle Atlantis undergoes preparations for its last flight on 8 July 2011 all aspects of astronautics. (see pages 331-334). NASA Spaceflight Vol 60 September 2017 323 NEWS ANALYSIS An artist’s impression of the National Satellite Testing Facility at Harwell, which is expected to open in 2020. STFC UK boosts space spending he UK Space Agency announced on involve significantly expanding the existing have not existed in the UK before. This lack 11 July a commitment made by the R100 building, which has recently been given of infrastructure has added to the costs and government to allocate £99 million for a an upgrade. The new expansion will double served to impede certain projects, a situation Tnew National Satellite Testing Facility (NSTF) the area for that activity, improvements which fully addressed by this timely upgrade to at Harwell, Oxfordshire, and a further £4 million are due to see it open in 2020 with its new title consolidate an infrastructure in need of for a National Space Propulsion Facility (NSPF) as the NSTF. Dr Christopher Mutlow, who is adaptation and development for the new and on Westcott Venture Park, Buckinghamshire, currently director of the Rutherford Appleton challenging requirements of 21st century space to assist with the development and testing of Laboratory (RAL), will take change of the new science and engineering. rocket motors. facility. The new National Space Propulsion Facility The NSTF funding is from the Industrial Services added to an existing capability at Westcott will empower the research and Strategy Challenge Fund and will support will benefit from two 5 x 6 m thermal vacuum development of new rocket motors in a way construction of facilities for assembly, chambers, installations which have been which has not been possible before. Reaction integration and testing of instruments, satellites booked or several years into the future. Added Engines has already pledged to invest in a new and spacecraft. It is hoped that this will prevent too will be a new test chamber 8 m tall, capable test stand and this will enhance an already British firms from having to go abroad to use of taking the largest satellites weighing up to six positive approach to improved opportunities. test facilities not presently available in the UK. tonnes. While many customers will be attracted But the real concern for everyone is the issue The UK government has pledged to strive for to these new chambers, and other test facilities over the relationship with European countries 10% of the global space market by 2030 and to at the new NSTF, there is a desire to attract after Britain leaves the EU in a few years from extend its commitment to the development of foreign clients too. now. new facilities to support that objective. So far, many UK instruments and satellites Britain’s role in the European Space Agency Sustaining a traditional role in consolidating have had to be taken abroad, not only to (ESA) will be largely unchanged – ESA is a major presence for an environment in which take advantage of unique experience with a independent of the EU and has for long sought new developments can take place, work will specific team, but also to use facilities which to stave off attempts by Brussels to absorb it 324 Spaceflight Vol 60 September 2017 in its jurisdiction. But several ESA projects are now reliant on EU money, not least the Galileo navigation system and the Copernicus Earth science and environmental research programme. Just how UK participation continues in those programmes will depend upon negotiations which have yet to get underway. In view of those uncertainties, the significant improvement to national infrastructure is only to be applauded, allowing UK companies and customers to maintain a solid base of development without going abroad. And, already, satellites for the Copernicus programme will employ instruments already booked in for Harwell. “It’s soup to nuts, isn’t it?” says Dr Graham Turnock the Chief Operating Officer of the UK Space Agency. “You should be able to set up From left: Dr Graham Turnock, Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency, Dr Chris Mutlow, Director and run a space business in the UK and be of RAL Space, Dr Brian Bowsher, Chief Executive of the Science and Technology Facilities Council able to go from conception to launch. And if and Universities and Science Minister Jo Johnson on a visit to RAL Space, on the Harwell Campus in we can offer that, it’s going to make the UK a Oxfordshire, the site of the new National Satellite Testing Facility. STFC tremendously attractive place to do space.” player in the commercial space age by enabling The Bill seeks new powers to expand the Meanwhile… small satellite launch from UK spaceports. The licences for rockets, spaceplanes, satellite In a concerted effort to expand the practical measures in the Bill will help make the UK the operations and spaceports, in addition to application of commercial space flights from UK most attractive place in Europe for commercial providing a regulatory framework for risk sites, the Queen’s Speech contained a Space launch and enable UK businesses to capture a management and safety assessments. It will Industry Bill to “ensure the UK remains a leading growing share of this emerging global market.” also address matters of security and associated nce again, issues of Mars exploration Orion is incapable, on its own, of getting referred to as such by the media on account come to the foreground, as serious people there. of their emulation of the male bee – has consideration is being applied to how This month (pages 336-342) Stephen caused serious problems for aviation. ONASA will construct a robust Mars exploration Ashworth examines the various options put It is illegal to fly these devices over airports programme for the coming decade. While still forward for those missions, and awards scores or airfields but it is also illegal for the authorities some way from being announced, the agency which rate them against the initial plan from to actively shoot them down.