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Aviation History
1962
1962 - 0988.PDF
) 986 Missiles and Spaceflight such studies (during the build-up of ESTeC). In addition during this period the scientific use to be made of the satellite must be studied in detail. The theoretical and dynamic analysis group would:— (a) act as theoretical group for the other groups and be in control of all ESTeC computer facilities, (b) carry out early assessments of new projects with the aid of other groups, (c) carry out theoretical work on satellite guidance, control, stabilization and orbit adjustment, (d) carry out computer and simulator studies for (c) and for existing projects, (e) control similar work in industry as an extension of its own work, (f) carry out data reduction for the environmental testing group. The instrumentation group would provide:— (a) assistance to project groups in the development of instrument ation and reference systems, (b) control of development of more advanced techniques for instrumentation and reference systems, (c) control of applied research in such areas as data storage, the application of solid-state circuits, signal detectors of various types, etc (the amount of work which the group itself would do in any one of these areas would depend on their relative importance and the background and abilities of the staff). The control and stabilization techniques group would carry out the following functions:— (a) assistance to project groups in the development of control and stabilization systems, (b) control development of more advanced techniques in methods of control (gas jets, flywheels, ion rockets or other electrical methods, etc), (c) methods of using naturally occurring torques (differential gravi tational field, radiation pressure, etc), and the various techniques of providing damping. These could be of interest for a satellite stabilized in Earth or Moon or a planet axes, (d) orbit modification techniques, (e) study of rotating or moving parts in vacuo. The power supplies group would:— (a) control development in industry of silicon solar cells, solar cell modules including suitable cements, filters, etc, and of batteries as electrical storage devices for satellites, (b) develop and operate suitable facilities for testing power supply components, (c) control applied research for new and better methods of gener ation and storage of electrical power for satellites, e.g. more advanced methods of use of semi-conductors for this purpose, thermoelectric and thermionic methods, fuel cells, etc, (d) keep in close touch with electrical methods of propulsion which in some instances includes the generation of high power. The environmental testing group would cany out the following functions:— (a) operate a central test facility for all rocket and satellite equip ment, (b) control development of suitable test facilities. The major item would be a large vacuum chamber with simulated sunlight input and cooled walls for heat balance testing, (c) organize environmental testing associated with particle bom bardment of satellites, (d) undertake applied research, particularly in the area of correla tion of flight data with ground testing and hence the development of new testing techniques. The materials and components group would:— (a) undertake the study of materials for satellites use, e.g. metals, non-metals, lubricants, etc, (b) control development of suitable surface coatings for heat balance requirements, (c) undertake applied research on the properties of materials in vacuo and under the action of radiations, (d) carry out applied research on surface coatings with emissivities and absorptivities a function of temperature for more accurate passive thermal control. FLIGHT International, 21 June 1962 Annual Expenditure For a staff total of 295 scientists and en gineers plus 500 ancillary staff, the annual cost of staff and over heads is estimated at 25m NF per year. Annual extra-mural expenditure would be 65.4m NF and depreciation, superannuation etc, 3m NF, giving a total annual expenditure of 93.4m NF. Facilities Required The major items of capital expenditure will be buildings, workshops, environmental test facilities, computers, test rigs for stabilization testing, and standard test gear and labora tory facilities. Laboratories and offices for 295 scientists and en gineers plus 500 ancillary staff would require a building whose estimated cost is 14m NF. It would probably be necessary to pro vide a fairly large conference/lecture room, because the briefing of large numbers of European industrialists would be necessary prior to receiving their design studies and taking contract action. Estimated cost of the workshop building together with standard machine tools is 7m NF. Special machine tools such as very high precision or automated tools or special measurement equipment might require an addition to this amount. The major environmental test facility is a large vacuum chamber with walls cooled to liquid oxygen or nitrogen temperatures and a simulated sunlight input for heat-balance testing. Such a facility requires development and should be preceded by a smaller chamber pilot facility to study the technical problems involved. The estimated cost of this develop ment and installation is 14m NF. In addition, vibration equipment to test large satellites is estimated to cost 3m NF. Total cost of environmental test facilities is estimated at 21m NF. It is considered that one reasonably large digital computer and probably one large and one small analogue computer would be required for the sole use of ESTeC. They would be under the control of the theoretical and dynamic analysis group and wouldcost an estimated 4.2m NF. Special test rigs would need to be developed for stabilization testing with gas jets, etc, and these would require special buildings, at an estimated total cost of 2.1mNF. For standard test gear and laboratory facilities, the cost estimate for initial equipment is based on about 14,000 NF per scientist and engineer, giving a total estimated cost of 4.2m NF. The total capital expendi ture on major items is 52.5m NF, with an additional 2.5m NF for lesser items. Build-up of ESTeC with Costs The table below assumes that the staff could be recruited at the rate of 50 scientists and engineers every six months up to the total of 495. It assumes that the buildings and workshops could be completed in two years and that major capital faculties would be completed in four years. Table 2. Total annual ESTeC costs for first five years (in millions of new francs; total capital expenditure 55m NF) Year 1 ? 3 A 5 Capital expenditure buildings 10.5 10.5 __ — equipment 8.4 12.6 7 3.5 2.5 Running costs of units 7 14 28 28 28 Extra-mural expenditure functional groups 4 8 14.6 14.6 14.6 project groups 1 2.1 5.5 8.8 8.8 8.8 2 10.5 21 21 21 21 3 _ 21 21 21 Total (mNFj 42.5 71.6 100.4 96.9 96.9 The build-up is roughly: first year, 40m NF; second year, 70m NF; third year, 100m NF; fourth year, 100m NF and fifth year, 100m NF. From the fourth year the intra-mural expenditure would be about 30m NF per year and the extra-mural expenditure about 65m NF per year. The reason for this relatively small ratio is due to the new technology involved. It is assumed that any expansion at a much later stage would be obtained by greater expenditure in industry up to a ratio of about 5:1. Special Requirements in Researeh and Development A number of countries consider that a sounding rocket capable of being launched to moderate altitudes (e.g. to 100 km) would be of considerable value for national and possibly ESRO programmes of space research. This is particularly so for those countries which do not have large unpopulated areas of land and are prohibited from launch ing over the sea due to the proximity of busy shipping lanes. The problem of developing a sounding rocket to meet such requirements is a severe one since the technique employed must be of very high reliability on the grounds of safety. A preliminary proposal has been made by the Netherlands for a controlled rocket. In addition, it is understood that work of this nature is beifig considered by the German Federal Republic.
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