The Future Points to Integrated Aerospace & Air Transportation

By Andrew Aroh

Note that AERONAUTICS is the science or practice of building and flying aircraft, while AEROSPACE is the industry of building Aircrafts, Vehicles and equipment to be sent to space.

Integrated Aerospace programs includes:

• Aviation safety and security
• Environmental issues
• Workforce education
• Space & space tourism industry
• Mitigating hazards of space travel

Civil Aviation work is aimed at enhancing aviation safety which is perfectly consistent with the NCAA’s regulatory charter as well as the use of faster, more fuel-efficient civil aircraft which is an appropriate job for NCAA.

WORLDWIDE, SATCOM PROFESSIONALS make connections in the most unexpected places.

Satellite services create the links that help people to do the most ordinate and sometimes the most extraordinary things.

We really are part of Fabric of life.

Therefore, space cannot remain the business only of specialist.

It needs to get down to the street level.

• We need to apply spacecraft systems sensors with safety and integration expertise to transform complex ideas into tomorrow reliable systems using space tracking and surveillance systems.
• We need technology that develop and integrate technologies that delivers total mission solutions:
• Software that manages and controls satellites
• Advanced space sensors and Radar Emagery that reveal what you need to know.
• Ground based Networks and processing that transform data into knowledge and intelligence.
• Highest Resolution Commercial Satellite Imagery provides;
  • Imagery Intelligence
  • Geospatial Mapping applications
  • Visualization / Simulation functions
  • Operations planning
• Delivering Geospatial Intelligence is needed to create Visual Intelligence, Map accurate, high Resolution satellite imagery that are used to develop up to date maps, build modeling, simulation and mission planning tools, conduct assessment and deliver humanitarian assistance during disaster recovery and emergency management activities.
• But why Radar–Based Imagery?. Signal penetrates:
• Cloud
• Fog
• Rain
• Smoke
• Space Based Radar Systems provides novelty and versatility. According to design study a nine-satellite Radar system would dramatically increase the information available both to the Military forces and strategic decision makers.
• The primary mission of a Space Based Radar Systems detects moving targets in Air, on the Ground or at Sea.
• As envisioned, the system also would collect imagery of selected areas as needed and also provide terrain elevation data that is used to make 3-D maps for planning purposes.
• Space Based Radar Satellites will be equipped with electronically steerable phased arrays that provide broad coverage and therefore will be highly responsive to last-minute requests for surveillance of a particular area.
• With the Radar payload, a nine-satellite constellation would provide nearly constant surveillance of the Earth within 75 degrees of the equator with minimal gaps. It could be arranged to maximize coverage of particular area of interest.

Establishing Imaging Research Center:

• We have seen the Earth observation sector gradually shift from its historic concerns with Meteorology, defense and agriculture towards newer applications such as Risk Assessment, Refugee and Population Movement, Land use and other areas.
• We need to be sure that the huge amount of data coming from tomorrow’s satellites can be made useful for these applications.
• The Global Monitoring for Environment and Security program started by the European Space Agency and the European Commissions has already produced some results.
• With the satellites we have in orbits now and those that are on their way, there will be an overwhelming amount of data coming down that needs to be treated and analyzed.
• The idea of an imaging center is to create algorithms that will extract some of the information automatically.
• With the sharper resolution satellites, you change the analysis from one of area recognition to one of object recognition.

It’s a more complex environment with a wider diversity of images.
What is required is to develop ways that users can find the information they want easily.

• The Imaging center facilities needs to be located at selected Universities and Research centers with equivalent of 10 full time employees, in addition to graduate students specializing in Data Mining and Image Processing.
• Developing ways to digest higher-resolution imagery will be key to developing a market for the product among government and other users.

Contract services for Design and Manufacturers in Aerospace:

• Design and manufacturing in Aerospace is enabled by the following:

Software: machinery; materials; components; subassemblies; electronic Robotics; Testing and contract services.

• To enable Aerospace contract services requires creating Research and Technology solution organizations for Aerospace and Air Transport Industry with facilities for design and manufacture of the required spacecraft components, devices, systems, subsystems, products and solutions.

This could be engineering, research and technology services company with contracts supporting multiple federal agancies.

Its extensive team of MSc./Ph.D Scientists, engineers and professional management personnel stands to allow it to bring real-world experience to meet the growing demand for solutions to some of the most complex problems in Aeronautics, Aviation, IT managements and Earth and space sciences.

• AEROSPACE & AIR TRANSPORTATIONS

As the commercial space industry has begun to grow rapidly, oversight responsibilities have grown as well.

• In addition to the regular work of License and permit evaluations, the mission of commercial space Transportation with the Aviation Administration has expanded into: Federal spacecrafts Launch Ranges and commercial spaceports, and significant partnerships with both the ministry of Defense and the likes of NASRDA, (National Space Research & Development Agency).
• Additionally, the new area of Commercial Human Space flight requires significant efforts to determine how safety oversight should occur.

In order to provide operational safety oversight, timely license evaluations, and near-term development of new requirements, companies need to provide engineering services to support the mission of commercial space transportation.

• RESPONSIBILITIES:

Position will serve as an Aerospace Engineer in the Licensing and Evaluation Division of the office of commercial space Transportation to analyze and conduct safety evaluations of space transportation.

Activities involve the Launch or reentry of expendable and reusable Launch vehicles and operation of Launch and reentry sites.

This position analyzes and evaluates Launch and range safety operations and requirements that involves the design, development, test and evaluation of flight safety and Launch vehicle systems as well as provides technical reviews and analysis submitted by an applicant seeking a Launch License or experimental permit.

Educational, Skills and Ability Requirements:

• Sc in Aerospace Engineering or related field
• Knowledge and experience of with deign, development, test and evaluation of spacecraft or Launch vehicle systems and subsystems such as propulsion, avionics, or electrical systems.
• Knowledge of propulsion in all its form:
• Gas turbine
• Solid–fueled Rocket Motor
• Ion Engines (Xenon-ion thruster)
• Hypersonics
• Nuclear
• Knowledge of Launch and range safety operations and requirements.
• Ability to communicate technical information to diverse audience.

Space Tourism Industry:

• Since 2005, suborbital space flights have been guaranteed and in fact more than 500 people once reserved and paid deposits for the flights. But because of the great interest shown by many people, a number of companies now view it as a money-making proposition and have infact ventured into it.
• Most have been proposing space vehicles that make suborbital flights peaking at an altitude of 100-160kms.
• Passengers would experience three to six minutes of weightlessness, a view of twinkle-free starfield and a vista of the curved Earth below.
• Note that in 2013, Virgin Galactic, completed the first rocket-powered flight of its space vehicles spaceshiptwo (SS2). The test completed by teams from scaled composite LLC (SCL) and Virgin Galactic marked the final phase of vehicle testing prior to commercial service from spaceport America in New Mexico.
• Thus Virgin Galactic became the world’s first commercial spaceline and the first private space tourism company to regularly send civilians into space.
• Virgin Galactic space vehicles were built in Mojave, California USA and can carry six passengers, or the equivalent scientific research payload or satellites on suborbital space flights. The space vehicles will allow an out-of-the-seat, zero-gravity experience with astounding views of the planet Earth from the black sky of space for tourist astronauts and a unique microgravity platform for researchers.
• Recall that the Virgin Galactic spaceship (SpaceshipTwo, VSS Enterprise) and carrier craft or mothership (WhiteknightTwo, VMS Eve) are actually scaled-up versions of SpaceshipOne and WhiteknightOne both developed by Mojave based SCL founded by American aerospace engineer Burt Rutan.
• In 2004, SpaceshipOne claimed the US $10 million Ansari X price when it became the world’s first privately developed manned spacecraft to reach 100kms in altitude twice in a period of two-week period.
• SpaceshipOne completed the feat while having the equivalent of three people onboard and with no more than ten percent of the non-fuel weight of the spacecraft replaced between flights.
• Development costs of SpaceshipOne estimated at US $25 million, were funded by Paul Allen, co-founded with Bill Gates of Microsoft.

Andrew Aroh is President of SSPI Nigeria