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Aviation History
1982
1982 - 0057.PDF
MBB suggests a space platform MESSERSCHMITT-BOLKOW- BLOHM (MBB) has just completed a study of geostationary platforms for the German ministry for research and technology. Called Geoplatforms, the craft are intended for the next generation of communications satel lite payloads. Claimed advantages in clude a saving in launch cost, and plenty of room for large antennas. MBB's Geoplatform would be launched by Space Shuttle, and features an integrated propulsion sys tem. The propulsion system would boost the craft from Shuttle's low- Earth orbit to a geostationary one, as well as providing attitude control on station. This approach eliminates a separate boost stage, for a saving in cost and complexity. MBB calculates that Geoplatform's propulsion system, and the craft's careful use of Shuttle's payload bay, will save about $20 mil lion in launch cost over a conven tional satellite. Geoplatform would weigh roughly 14-3 tonnes at lift-off, and 3-4 tonnes in geostationary orbit (the difference is the fuel burnt in getting there). Communications payload would be about 700kg, depending on power and lifetime. Current geostationary craft typically weigh about two tonnes, and MBB believes that three or four tonnes is right for the next genera tion. The craft's structure comprises a framework of carbonfibre-reinforced plastic struts. This approach differs from the traditional walled-in shape of current satellites, and allows many different payloads to be accommo dated by the same structure. But it does mean that electronics and cables are slightly more exposed, so they may need extra protection. Geo platform provides 3-3X71m of space for payload mounting, and the whole craft is designed to occupy half of Shuttle's payload bay. Built-in attach ments allow Geoplatform to fit directly into the bay—there is no need for a separate cradle. Except for Geoplatform's main 5kN-thrust engine, all the elements needed to develop it already exist. The 5kN engine is for orbital man oeuvres, including the boost from low- Earth orbit, and could be developed from MBB's 400N thruster. Attitude control is by separate ION thrusters, fed from the same tanks. MBB says that it will take four or five years to develop Geoplatform. Potential applications include a direct-broadcast television payload for the German telecommunications organisation, and a new generation of Intelsat communications satellites. MBB is also studying a reusable low-Earth orbit platform for the Ministry. Such a platform would be necessary for industrial operations in space, and to reduce spacecraft cost. MBB proposes a craft similar to Geo platform and envisages Shuttle launches. Ariane launches scheduled from Kourou Flight LS L6 U L8 L9 L10 •L11-' UK L13 M4 LIS u« LI/ L18 tso Ariani- type 3. : ? 3 *- 3 2/3 ti date 1982 July December i§M uary Mfcy J I.I IV Soptt-mber nb€»r 1934 April June A ugust December 198S , . , nary Satellite Marecs B t Sim. f . -* m :*r Exosat OR Int.-lsal v-6 Intelsat V 6 OR Exosat Intelsat V-7 :: Intelsal V-8 OR CCS 2 bCS 2 OR lnt~ls.it V-8 : " / , , I A . m IB + W-std' 6 SP^Q/I -'f Arabs at s Gstar 1 I ECS .? Spot 1 t Viking Gstar 2 I SPCC 2 . i?,.i OR S. (.... / - -' Satcol I i SBTS i OR TV S.i! TOF 1 OR SBTS 1 + ? Spaceflight Canada spends more on space THE Canadian Government is to spend an extra £59-5 million on space during the next four years (see table below). Canada's increased share in the European Space Agency's L-Sat will absorb £30-8 million of the new money, while preliminary design of a mobile communications satellite (Msat) will take £7-9 million. Re mote sensing gets £7-1 million, while subsystem development is given £8-5 million, and R&D £2-7 million. A further £2-6 million is set aside for ESA membership fees and a Paris office. Msat would provide XJHF links among aircraft, ships, cars, and vari ous Government and civilian services. Surveys suggest there would be about 140,000 Canadian users by the year 2000. Msat will be a geostationary satellite, and will cost about £180 mil lion to develop. A decision on whether to go ahead with Msat will be made in about a year. CANADIAN SPACE EXPENDITURE 1981 1982 1983 1984 to to to to 1982 1983 1984 1985 Before (£million; Now (£million) 39-6 43 6 42 5 39-8 61-7 61-3 32 9 47 8 Notes (a) Canada's financial year ends on March 31 (b) All values are converted from Canadian currency at a rate of £1 = C$2 22. Notes <a) Finn orders are shown in ordinary tyr>»* (b) Reservations have been made far. ECS '.i mu\ 4. LSat, Satcol 1 and 2, Auss.it 1 -and 2, CLT 1, Telsat 1. STC 1. and Spot 2. Spaceshots... Japanese newspaper Asahi Shim- bun has sponsored a Get Away Special aboard a Space Shuttle flight in late 1982. In an experi ment suggested by two high school students, pure artificial snow cry stals will be made directly from a gas during weightlessness. Nasa has so far accepted 321 of these privately funded Get Away Specials, the first of which will fly on the fifth Space Shuttle flight. Nasa has completed the merger of its Office of Space Science and its Office of Space and Terrestrial Applications. The result is an Office of Space Science and Appli cations. RIGHT International, 9 January (982 57
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