Training

From 2009, we intend to provide propulsion awareness courses for engineers, technicians and managers working within the propulsion field. The course will cover a concise background history, as well as methodology, approaches and philosophies widely used but often misunderstood.

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

Subsystem Engineering

The Company 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 din 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.

The task also includes devising budgets and design justification and test reports, preparing requirement documentation, initiating development and Qualification testing in accordance with prepared plans and managing the availability of all items through the subsystem design stages.

The procurement of components includes overseeing and managing test programmes to validate component designs or production practices.

Safety and Reliability

Owing to the hostile nature of the environment our systems must operate in, the industry depends heavily on high levels of safety and reliability. In order to achieve this with confidence, ISPG support services need to 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.

Design and Operation

Our depth of involvement in a variety of different types of propulsion subsystems over 30 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 or components. We pay attention to detail, focus on critical areas and strive to secure the product in complete compliance to requirements.

Legal

We support legal procedures, such as arbitration or claims for damages, from an impartial and unbiased standpoint. Our knowledge of components, industrial procedures, protocols and processes allow us to approach each case with the required technical perspective and our independence gives us the freedom to apply the necessary neutrality.

Subsystem Test

Following completion of the individual assembly, module or subsystem, the Company personnel perform acceptance testing. This includes the preparation of detailed test procedures and the subsequent test reports. Testing of the components within the assembly is performed and an in-depth knowledge of those components is required to evaluate performance in real-time and perform on-going trend analyses as data becomes known.

Testing incorporates pressure testing, leak testing, mechanical and electrical performance and functional testing

Launch Preparation

Our personnel have supported Clients’ launch campaign teams in senior leadership roles, notably on SAR Lupe (5 models) and GIOVE-B.

The Company has an independent Launch preparation team with many years experience and expertise in the field.
The launch team incorporates chemical analysis capability and a full set of Ground Support Equipment to allow pressure, leakage and functional testing to be carried out prior to launch, as well as transfer of the propellants and pressurisation for launch. A portable pack for on-site propellant analysis is under development, and the paper which was the basis for the presentation at the Space Propulsion 2008 conference may be downloaded here.

The team has its own SCAPE suits, radio communication equipment and ancillaries for launch site use.

All decontamination activities will be carried out by the team prior to preparation for departure.

Additional services, such as launch cover, emergency defuelling, propellant management and rapid response for launch delays are also available.

Chemistry

The chemistry laboratory at the facility at Westcott, Southern England, contains all instrumentation required to perform complete analyses of propellants during the procurement phase.

Our laboratory can perform AAS, GC, UV-Vis, NIR and FTIR analyses as well as a full suite of wet chemical analyses to comply with all existing propellant requirements

The laboratory has ISO 9001 accreditation pending. ICP and NVR testing can also be performed.

Mechanical Engineering

The workshop contains a laminar flow bench, electrical analysis equipment and drying and vacuum ovens to allow a variety of mechanical support services to be performed, including chemical cleaning, precision assembly, decontamination, refurbishment and repair of ground equipment , hoses and associated parts.

Ground Equipment

The workshop also allows for the design, assembly, commissioning and acceptance testing of hydraulic and pneumatic systems and hoses, to specific requirements.

The organisation has its own propulsion servicing equipment, the Propellant and Pressurant Servicing Equipment (PPLE), for loading and off-loading propulsion system propellant, and for pressurising and de-pressurising the same.  This is available for support to satellite test and launch campaigns.