Surrey Wins Two Key Engine Contracts

TECH SPACE

A typical SSTL space product

Guildford - Apr 17, 2003
SSTL has won a contract with QinetiQ and ESA's Aurora programme to research in-situ resource utilisation methods for future Mars exploration.

The work will take place over the next six months and cover the system level design of an In-situ Resource Utilisation (ISRU) chemical factory for the production of, for example, rocket propellant and life support consumables in future robotic and manned Mars missions.

In addition, it will look at novel methods for generating oxygen using carbon nano-fibre technology. SSTL is also contributing to broader QinetiQ research into future power systems for space exploration.

In a second contract with QinetiQ and ESA, SSTL is to develop a high-performance micro-miniaturised rocket engine for future small satellites. Additional partners are TNO's Prins Maurits Laboratory in the Netherlands and the Angstrom Laboratory at Uppsala University in Sweden.

The work will study the performance that can be achieved with precision engineered, miniature conventional parts, in comparison to MEMS systems, as well as the potential for micro-turbopumps.

The partners will also manufacture a small monopropellant demonstrator engine that will be tested at SSTL's propulsion facility at Westcott, UK.

TECH SPACE

CWRU Grad Student To Launch Satellite Prototype

Cleveland - Apr 14, 2003
Christopher Fennig hails from Holly Pines Christmas Tree Farm outside Bryant, Ind. Like Homer Hickman Jr., the coal miner's son whose story was told in the movie, "October Sky," Fennig looks to space for his future.

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2016 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service.