Introduction
News
Consultancy
Subsystem Engineering
Design & Operation
Safety & Reliability
PAMELA

ISP International Space Propulsion Ltd. provides engineering technical and advisory support to the space propulsion industry.

We offer Engineering services in the design, production and testing of satellite subsystems, project and programme management and procurement support.

We provide training for professionals and students alike.

We offer mechanical and chemical services in the supply and test of liquid propellants, mobile analysis (PAMELA), material compatibility investigations, and equipment design.

We provide advisory roles in health & safety, legal/arbitration, product assurance and logistics.

We'd like to hear from you! Let us know your views, questions, or suggestions. We endeavour to answer all reasonable points.

Feel free to contact us through the Message Centre opposite.

We want you to engage with us, expand your interest and knowledge, and with your support, enable us all to reach out, explore and discover the wonders of space.

For PAMELA news and status, please see dedicated tab

First Galileo FOC satellite assembled at OHB System

Bremen, May 3rd, 2012 - After the delivery of the first payload by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. (SSTL) in April, the first of a series of 22 Galileo FOC (Full Operational Capability) satellites, developed under contract with the European Space Agency, has now been assembled and is being prepared for the testing phase. Having completed the payload integration into the satellite, OHB sticks to the tight schedule with a delivery date of the first complete satellite by the end of this year. At OHB’s facilities in Bremen, the first flight satellite is now integrated with the platform, manufactured by OHB System, the propulsion module delivered by AMPAC-ISP, Niagara Falls, USA, and the payload delivered by SSTL, Guildford, UK.

Marco R. Fuchs, CEO of OHB, stated: "We are very proud to have reached this important milestone after only 27 months from the programme’s kick-off in January 2010. We are looking forward to finalise the test programme and then to transfer the satellite to the environmental test campaign.“ The completion of the production island facilities for the series production of the Galileo FOC satellites takes shape in parallel, while production of the second flight satellite has already started and the pre-assembly work on Flight Model number three is ongoing as well. OHB System is the prime contractor for the construction of 22 satellites for the Galileo system and is responsible for developing the satellite bus and for integrating the satellites. SSTL is developing and constructing the navigation payload and additionally assisting OHB with the final assembly of the satellites. The satellites undergo final assembly in Bremen.

* The Full Operational Capability phase of the Galileo programme is managed and fully funded by the European Union. The Commission and the European Space Agency (ESA) have signed a delegation agreement by which ESA acts as design and procurement agent on behalf of the Commission. The views expressed in this Press Release can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Union and/or ESA. "Galileo" is a trademark subject to OHIM application number 002742237 by EU and ESA.

We currently provide our Clients and partners with consultancy services in the following areas:

Subsystem design, procurement, production and test support;
Component design, development, procurement and test support;
Project Management;
Product Assurance (PA), Parts Materials and Process (PMP);
Safety and Customer representation in inspection, observation or auditing roles at integration, test or Launch sites;
Documentation support for Project, study or proposal work.

Testimonial

Received from OHB Sweden:

"OHB-Sweden found in ISP team the knowledgeable, responsive and responsible people who can support the on-going activities as well as proposal work with a highly professional and none the less friendly attitude. This combination brings much added value in the workplace at critical time and open long term perspective".

Received from AMPAC-ISP, Niagara Falls, NY:

"I had the good fortune of working with Paul for a little over two years when he was stationed in the U.S. serving as a technical consultant for OHB-System at our assembly facility in Niagara Falls New York. Paul's familiarity with European standards and processes, along with his positive attitude and detailed technical guidance, was instrumental in aligning our heritage U.S. design verification methods with the European equivalents."

"Complex propulsion system design parameters are challenging beasts even within one company or one culture, let alone two companies and multiple cultures. Paul consistently demonstrated high levels of integrity in helping to resolve design issues through both PDR and CDR phases and continued to employ his keen eye for detail during the MRR and delivery phases of the project."

"It was a pleasure to learn from and work with Paul. I highly recommend his technical consultancy services and wish him the best in future endeavors, even if he does pronounce aluminum funny."

George Litts, Galileo OCS Program Manager.

ISP supports subsystem engineering design and procurement activities, exploiting the expertise and experience of its personnel, built up over many years dealing with common suppliers, both in Europe and in the US.

The role requires a detailed knowledge of the design, construction and operation of each component, from the complex pressure regulator to the more basic hydraulic tubing and fittings.

The Company has provided support to propellant and pressurant tank procurement, as well as for pyrotechnic valves and all other major equipment found in propulsion subsystems, and procurement of complete systems.

Our depth of involvement in a variety of different types of propulsion subsystems over 40 years allows us to advise constructively on design, configuration and layout issues, with added consideration to production, test and operating restrictions that may manifest themselves.

We apply the same consideration to our procurement support, whether for propellants, raw materials, tubing and fittings, components or complete systems.

ISP can also provide support to Launch/Early Operation Phase (LEOP) operations, or spacecraft mission operation.

We pay attention to detail, focus on critical areas and strive to secure the product in compliance to requirements.

Owing to the hostile nature of the environment our systems must operate in, industrial confidence depends on the demonstration of safety and reliability.

In order to achieve this, ISP support services reflect the current state-of-the-art with respect to accepted practice, material and process specifications, standards of workmanship and product quality.

We support all aspects of product assurance and quality engineering, as well as providing expertise to evaluate systems and supporting ground equipment and protocols so as to maximise perceived reliability and increase Customer confidence.

Introducing: PAMELA

A fully-equipped, CE-certified laboratory, allowing on-site analysis of hazardous fluids, in a secure working and storage environment for operation in the harshest surroundings.

Download the PAMELA Information Brochure (PDF)

PAMELA Update January 2013

The container was finally delivered in September, following final unpowered verification at the Supplier. A small incident occurred during loading which delayed the delivery by a further week.

Powered verification at our test site was delayed owing to a non-compliant supply board. In addition, the test resource availability was temprorarily inadequate to perform all the required activities, which included some late modifications and finishing steps. These resource shortfalls have now been cleared.

It is hoped that the commissioning will be completed in January 2013.

Further updates will be posted in due course.

About
Why Choose ISP?
Heritage
Projects

ISP International Space Propulsion Limited (ISP) was formed in October 2001 to provide engineering and technical consulting and advisory services to the spacecraft space propulsion sector, primarily within Europe.

Anchored on a long and broad experience of the industry, ISP consultants provide insight and heritage to spacecraft propulsion projects, underpinning projects with lessons and knowledge drawn from past experiences, ranging from early European platforms such as OTS and Olympus, through Cluster and ATV, to Cryosat and the Galileo programme.Since its inception, ISP has expanded and evolved to meet both the market and client’s requirements as efficiently as possible.

In 2001, the Company performed a single subsystem engineering support role on the procurement and provision of propulsion equipment to the Radarsat 2 programme. By 2008, the Company had grown to 5 full-time (and the retention of service of one Part-time) Consultant working with various European clients, in Design and Procurement Engineering; Production; Test and Launch; Project Management; Chemistry; and Mechanical Services. The Company continues to strive to identify and develop both its markets and Customer base.

We are looking forward to a new and energetic expansion into new markets: through innovation of approach; identifying and meeting niche requirements; and developing new partnerships in Europe, the US and in the developing space world.

The level of available experience and expertise in propulsion system design and development, production and deployment is in decline. While established members of the discipline retire, too few new graduates and those with long-term ambitions in the field are coming forward to replace them.

ISP provides continuity for propulsion contractors in these areas: fulfilling immediate needs for experienced technical staff and allowing time to focus on training their future workforce whilst providing guidance in fundamental approaches and building of in-house knowledge. ISP aims to bring together talented and dedicated individuals from many varied sources with the experience and knowledge of the best European space propulsion techniques, practices and lessons-learned, to provide a support service of the highest quality, to benefit all clients.

ISP operates a flexible and highly mobile business plan, which ensures rapid response and maximum efficiency to bring customers the value they require.

Unlike the major contractors, we perform spacecraft propulsion support as our core business, which means we have the enthusiasm, expertise and know-how to meet any challenge and any circumstance that may occur, to the highest industrial standards, within challenging timeframes.

We support legal procedures, such as arbitration or damages claims, from an impartial and unbiased standpoint.

Our knowledge of component and system operation, industrial procedures, protocols and processes allow us to approach each case with the required technical perspective and our independence gives us the freedom to judge cases on merit and apply the necessary neutrality.

The Company has been actively supporting European space efforts since its inception, but the experience, reputations and heritage of our Consultants demonstrates their depth of involvement and pivotal roles performed over many years in the industry.

The industrial heritage within the industry that our personnel bring to bear includes design, production, test and launch support in many successful programmes, with most of the large European contractors, namely:

British Aerospace (now EADS Astrium Ltd.), UK

Olympus (for ESA) development, test and Launch support
Eurostar Propulsion Systems development, test and Launch
Cluster I & II (for ESA) design, development, production, test and Launch
Rosetta (for ESA) production, test and Launch
Mars & Venus Express (for ESA) test and Launch

DASA/Daimler Chrysler GmbH (now EADS Astrium Space Transportation GmbH), Germany

ATV (for ESA) design support
Spacebus propulsion systems design support
Various monopropellant propulsion systems production & test
- TerraSAR-X, Rocsat 2, Pleiades, Theos
- GSTB-V2 (GIOVE-B), Galileo IOV.
Various monopropellant propulsion systems launch campaigns
- SAR Lupe FM 1 to 5 (for OHB System)
- GSTB-V2 (GIOVE-B).
Herschel & Planck (for ESA) production & test
Development of Eurostar assembly production/test
Development of Galileo assembly production
Development of Alphabus propulsion system and producyion/test protocols

Alenia Spazio SpA (now Thales Alenia Space), Italy

Radarsat 2 design and procurement support.

Alcatel Space Industry (now Thales Alenia Space), France

Meteosat 2 (MSG) AIT support
Stentor design support.

MAROTTA (UK) Ltd (now AMPAC-ISP Cheltenham)

Cryosat I & II CGPS Project Management

The European Space Agency (ESA)

Propulsion 2000 study

Gerling Holz & Co (GHC), Germany

Propellant production analytical support.

OHB System, Germany

Engineering design and procurement support
Mechanical refurbishment services.

MT Aerospace, Germany

Program Management - Tank Development Programe for Vega AVUM Upper Stage

Current Programmes:

Vega AVUM LPS tank - a development program to develop tank and expulsion technology in support of the Vega launch vehicle Upper Stage (AVUM) evolution. ISP has provided Project Management support since July 2012. The program authority has transferred from the facility in Wolverhampton, UK, to Augsburg.

Galileo FOC - design and definition support to procurement of the propulsion subsystems for PFM, 13 FM + 1EM/1SM. The role has involved overseeing and supporting the Propulsion supplier's activities to provide an effective interface to overcome cultural hurdles and maintain a full-time Customer presence for real-time handling of technical and programmatic issues as they arise. In addition, on-going preparation work is being performed for propulsion module Integration and Test activities at the Customer facility in Bremen, Germany.

Solar Orbiter - working closely with Customer in Sweden, providing engineering support to proposal and initial design phases of bi-propellant propulsion system: currently in the finalisation of the equipment specifications, continuing with the preparations for propulsion system PDR.

[S]PACE - the Space Propulsion Awareness CoursE, completed with ESA funding, is fully available. Order books are now open. Follow links to [S]PACE through this site, or visit www.space-propulsion.eu.

PAMELA - the development of the Propulsion Analysis Module - External Laboratory commenced in December 2011. The facility, planned for process completion and implementation in Q2 2012, will allow rapid and reliable on-site analysis of propellants to current material standards, at a fraction of the time and cost currently available elsewhere. This will be of great interest to all users of sites without such facilities, as well as service suppliers and contractors. More information on the facility, including enquiry details, will be issued closer to completion.

Training

With ESA assistance and guidance, we have developed a spacecraft propulsion awareness course for engineers, technicians and managers working within the propulsion field. The course covers a concise background history, as well as methodology, approaches and philosophies widely used but often misunderstood.

Documentation preparation, reliability and best practice have been included to allow those involved in all areas to achieve greater efficiency and understanding of required tasks. The course incorporates component design and operation, hazards and precautions, the importance of trend analysis and reliability, and subsystem testing.

PACE for Space

Satellite propulsion awareness course for: Trainees, graduates, technical professionals, managers, administrators, delegates from insurance companies, end-users and mission operatives, other interested parties.

A residential course featuring discussion, practical demonstrations and industrial perspectives, with attachment to Westcott - one of the UK’s principal space heritage sites. The course will be held in English.

An awareness course, run over 3 or 4 days, delivering:

Background of European space propulsion achievements;
Component characteristics – use of components within typical systems; design awareness;
Subsystem engineering design and operations;
MAIT aspects – cleanliness, maintaining reliability and traceability; safety;
Propellant awareness - safety; typical use; hazards and precautions; basic chemistry;
Launch site operations and protocols; emergency event awareness;
Personnel responsibilities, organisation, professional approach and overall safety;
An introduction to reliability concepts and traceability;
Documentation requirements –planning; preparation; data handling; reporting.

The objective of the course will be to enable professionals already involved in propulsion activities to gain insight and guidance concerning general propulsion industrial approach and accepted practice applied throughout the field.

The course should appeal to managers, designers, engineers, or technical staff alike, providing a background of European propulsion heritage, as well as a broad overview of applicable protocols that should be applied at various levels of the discipline, in order to ensure European industry maintains high levels of performance, reliability and quality of product.

Format and content approved by European Space Agency.

Leading to a Certificate of Assessment allowing industrial contractors to assess individual interest and establish suitability for further training.

The course will be delivered by individuals with a long heritage, broad knowledge and depth of experience in the space propulsion discipline.

Courses will be offered on the following schemes:

Open List

maximum number of delegates 20, course performed at premises in UK, 4-day residential course; all costs met, except transfer and flights. Open List course may contain a mix of delegates from other companies. Course may contain SCAPE demonstration and simulated fluid operations.

Closed List

reserved for delegates from, or invited by, an individual Customer: minimum number of delegates 6, course performed either in UK (see above), or at Customer-arranged premises, without extras. These courses will be arranged at convenience of the Customer, depending on tutor availability.

Play Space

Space Dude

Rocket Man

Gamma Bros

Raiden

Retro Shoot

e-Diary

Readiness for Russia

The Russia trip was designed to be a unique opportunity for students to experience the history of Russian space exploration programmes from the first satellite probes in the 1950s to present day and the construction of the international space station. Students will experience master classes from scientists and innovators in the field of space exploration from Korolev City.

Students will visit the space corporation, Energia, to see many artefacts from the Russian space programmes and gain an understanding of the culture and language of Russia through a visit to the Kremlin, Red Square and other historical places in and around Moscow.

Diary of Joss Taylor - Trentham High School, Stoke-on-Trent

Day 1 - 2nd October 2012

Travel, travel, travel. Waking up at 1.30am to get to Derby at 3am isn’t my idea of an ideal start to the day. Followed by a 3 hour coach journey to London Heathrow Airport. The four hour flight wasn’t so bad with the entertainment of the inflight TV and jokes from my friends but having arrived in Moscow Domodedovo Airport we had another 2 hour coach journey. Due to the 4 million cars on Moscow roads the coach trip lasted 4 hours and the warmer than Britain heat didn’t help as there was little air conditioning.

Finally, arriving at the hotel we saw our rooms; they were good. Staying with my friend for the week was going to be fun and the week ahead was going to be interesting.

Day 2 - 3rd October 2012

Today we were touring around Moscow. In the coach we had seen many statues and memorials to all of the people important to Moscow and Russia. First we visited Red Square (correctly called Beautiful Square in Russian). Here we saw St Basel’s Cathedral, Gum and the Kremlin. St Basel’s Cathedral was magnificent with its ten chapels and multi-coloured roof. Also the great walls of the Kremlin were stunning with its great towers overlooking the square. We left the square for the moment where we saw the tomb of the Unknown Soldier and arrived there in time to witness the changing of the guards. Heading back into the square there was a massive statue of Stalin on a horse this was facing away from the Kremlin towards the market.

Next stop was Gum department store. This was a massive place that reminded me of Harrods and the Trafford Centre combined.

After going back to the hotel for dinner we were off to our next destination. On the way we stopped off at some gardens and saw the wonderful scenery and impressive buildings. This was the Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics. Here I was amazed to see all of the rockets and satellites also pictures of the first dog to space, Lika, and the first two dogs to return from space. We also saw the space suits of the first cosmonaut to walk in space and the first cosmonaut into space (Yuri Gagarin). We learnt about how the rockets and satellites had improved technologically and physically thanks to the knowledge of our wonderful tour guide. Attached to the museum was a statue of a rocket, this was part an enormous sight that could be seen from many miles away and was one of the tallest points on Moscow.

Day 3 - 4th October 2012

The day started off in the Mission Control Centre in Korolyov City. Here we had to keep quiet as there were many people working. We entered on of the control rooms although there was no one in there we could see how many people would be working on a project at any time due to the size of the room. Then we entered the other control room, here they were already contacting the International Space Station and from the seating above we could see a live stream below. There must have been at least 50 people in the area below all contacting cosmonauts, astronauts or the space station in one way or another.

After that brilliant experience we went to a Russian School in Korolyov City. We were welcomed by some of the students and the teachers. We went to witness some of the lessons that went on in the school. It was funny as when we went in the Russian students found the English language humorous as they said ‘hello’ and began to giggle. Also we went into the reception where we were all given a gift that the children had made themselves in the weeks prior to the visit. I was given a painting given to me by one of the girls in the class. Then we were given some entertainment. This started with is joining in in a Russian dance; then playing some games; watching two students in ballroom dancing and finally going outside to play badminton with the Russian students. When we came back inside we were greeted by the

Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Aleksandrovich Volkov. He spoke to us about space travel and his time on board two different Russian space centres, Salyut and Mir. Then we were able to ask him questions and I was amazed about some of the things that I found out. We were then given a signed photo and booklet of Mr Volkov.

Day 4 - 5th October 2012

Today we set of towards Star City. This is the place where the cosmonauts train in preparation for space flight. We were told that they cosmonauts need to be strong and prepared as when taking off they experience up to 4 G-Force. This means that is a cosmonaut was 50kg they would feel the weight of 200kg on their chest. They need to be strong in order for their heart not to stop. We then went to see a model of the ISS (International Space Station) and learnt even more about the rockets and cosmonautics. We also learnt about what the cosmonauts had with them in the landing pod for when they land. This included first aid kits and a survival kit, including guns, matches and saws so that they can start a fire if they land in Siberia. Then we were able to buy some of the space food in the gift shop. I bought space bread, space juice and space fudge.

After dinner we went to see Aleksandr Volkov’s son, Sergei. He is also a Russian cosmonaut who has been to space twice on the ISS and is hoping to visit it again soon. He told us about life on board the ISS and the adaptations they have to make when they arrive there and when they land back on Earth. We were then given a signed photo of Sergei and our school received a gift to remind is of the ISS and Sergei.

Day 5 - 6th October 2012

Today once again we were touring around the city of Moscow. This started with us going to the Kremlin to have a tour inside its touring walls. It was amazing to see the massive buildings within also its many magnificent churches with their gold domes. Inside the paintings were amazing and extremely detailed; unfortunately we weren’t allowed to take photographs as the paintings covering the walls were extravagant. After visiting the church we were lucky enough to witness the changing of the guards. It was a brilliant spectacle and it was much greater than the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace.

After dinner we were back in the coach finishing off our tour of Moscow. On this trip we went to see the 1980 Olympic village with the massive Olympic Stadium dominating the area. Also we went to see the university building. It was massive and one of the seven skyscrapers built around Moscow to represent the 800 years of the city. The other skyscraper was built in Warsaw.

Day 6 - 7th October 2012

Today we went to the market. Here we spent the remainder of our roubles. We spent most of our time amazed by the high quality of every product on every stall. After much haggling and a great deal of roubles spent most of the group had no money left and all of the items they wanted to bring back home.

Afterwards we set off towards the airport. On arrival we thought check in would be rather easy however the machine had broken making a job that would take a couple of minutes last almost an hour. Finally we had made it through customs and our bags had been checked in and we were on the plane back home, all of us tired and reflecting on what a brilliant week it had been.

Leading Russian Space Scientist Visits Trentham High

Professor Alexander Martynov, Head of the Foreign Relations Department of the City of Korolev, the home of the Russian Space Mission Control is an engineer who sees no problem in sending humans to Mars. His message to 400 young people to our students and those from Haywood, St Peters and Thistly Hough High School in the audience was “We are planning to send man to Mars in 2035, but we don’t yet know exactly how it can be done. You are the scientists, doctors, pilots, engineers and psychologists of the future. You will come up with the ideas to make it happen!”

Professor Martynov showed a video of some of his friends at work. The Soyuz rocket launches them into space, which he said was not a pleasant experience for the astronauts who briefly feel a force of 25Gs . They take the scenic route, orbiting the Earth for 2 days to acclimatise themselves to weightlessness, before docking with MIR to start a six month stay in space. A video showed the astronauts eating from plastic tubes of food reconstituted with water taken from the atmosphere in MIR; being strapped down to a treadmill whilst running up to seven miles a day in order to keep their bones and joints healthy for re-entry to gravity; playing games in weightlessness; washing with water that looked like hair gel floating around in front of their faces; and even having to use a vacuum cleaner when having a haircut, so that debris didn.t float off around the capsule. But life on MIR is hard work. The three astronauts conduct medical experiments and work outside the Space Station for up to seven hours at a time. Professor Martynov explained how leaving the Space Station to go outside was one of the hardest steps, psychologically, to take.

So why go to Mars? Professor Martynov explained that it was the most similar planet to Earth, with evidence of water flow in the past, now mostly frozen. Methane was discovered in 2003 which may indicate biological organisms and possible geological processes. There is evidence of asteroid bombardment. Investigating these effects may help us understand the Earths climate changes and how life begins, or ends. In addition he explained that the only reliable way of detecting life on Mars was to dig 60m into the Martian soil and that this was only possible with a manned mission.

Professor Martynov concluded his presentation by saying. We need your help to tackle the problems of realisation. How do we cope with the psychological adaptation to a two year trip in space when it takes 20 minutes for the radio signal to reach Earth, even in an emergency? How do we wash clothes? How do we recycle waste?

Get In Touch...

Contact Us

ISP International Space Propulsion Ltd

Building 253
Westcott Venture Park
Westcott, Aylesbury
Buckinghamshire
HP18 0XB

Corporate Enquiries

+44 7733 116562

Central Ops - Westcott

+44 1296 652298

Fax

+44 1296 652297