Critical information can now be made available to all launch participants via a private Extra-net service managed by AWI engineers from integration centers and launch sites.

This enables detailed technical information including data measurements, photographs and other graphical information to be distributed worldwide as it is gathered by AWI - speeding up workarounds and reducing total launch costs.

Inspection reports sent by fax are cumbersome and incapable of transmitting high resolution images or large amounts of data quickly.

Time differences and language barriers can be overcome by capturing high resolution images with a new generation of digital cameras that exceed the quality of 35mm film, with all information protected by secure user groups with the Extra-net.

Alphons Arts, AWI's marketing director, says the company has many examples of where costs have been reduced using Internet-assisted support for launch campaigns.

"It can be simple things, like tele-conferences where people are trying to explain problems without any visual support," said Arts. "A picture really does tell more than a thousand words, and with dozens of check-offs to be performed during any inspection, problems will arise that need fast workarounds that don't blow the contingency budget," Arts added.

According to AWi a typical commercial launch campaign can be best described as follows:

Three key tasks - testing, fuelling and integration on top of the launch vehicle are the final phase that completes all spacecraft manufacturing.

In step one of these preparations, the satellite is placed on a dolly fixture for tests on its electrical systems. The spacecraft composite reflectors are partially deployed and anechoic load is installed to absorb radiation.

Following successful electrical-verification testing, final stowage of the reflectors is critical. An extensive inspection is performed and areas in question are verified against current specifications.

"We have had situations where we had to perform last minute repairs on skin and honeycomb where the repair procedure had to be approved by the engineering team back home," explained Arts.

"That�s when quick communication is essential. Confirmation by sending pictures of the repair �Before� and �After� have helped explain problems and regain confidence in proceeding to the next step," said Arts.

After successful electrical tests, the spacecraft is then prepared for fuelling. It�s put behind a blast shield to protect staff in case of explosion while it�s propellant tanks get fully pressurized to check for leaks.

The second step sees the spacecraft hydrazine propellant brought out of the storage bunker to the fuelling bay, where workers wear airtight protective suits to avoid contact with the hazardous liquid.

If the spacecraft configuration contains a Solid fuel Apogee kick Motor (AKM), X-ray are used to check for cracks in the AKM. Subsequent integration of heaters, dressing of the harness and blanketing are last step operations that require final inspection. Again at this critical stage, issues that come up need quick answers with a clear communication and understanding of the key elements.

Once the AKM is installed in the spacecraft, it continues to the next step; final blanketing - which requires meticulous attention to detail, such as inspecting mechanisms for any blockages due to small pieces of kapton tape left there during last minute servicing.

Passive Inter-modulation (PIM) blanket protection is another area that requires checking the dressage and grounding of blankets. In this process where the spacecraft is readied to go onto the spin table for balancing operations - issues often come up that need input from engineers back home.

The final step is when you get into combined operations; and working to schedules becomes critical as the campaign teams responsible for launch vehicles, payload and pad services come together.

The spacecraft is now encapsulated for transporting to the launch pad. Once there, the remaining tasks involve testing the AKM arming device, battery capacity and any final launch configuration tests.

Via AWI's Internet-assisted inspection, sign off for launch can now be given with critical information in detail, distributed to all participants no matter where they are located.

American Worldwide Inspections Community
Email This Article
Comment On This Article

Related Links
Space

Memory Foam Mattress Review

SPACE MEDIA NETWORK PROMOTIONS Solar Energy Solutions Tempur-Pedic Mattress Comparison ... Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News

SPACEDAILY

Satellite Launch To Boost DTH In India
Calcutta, India (SPX) Dec 28, 2005
The successful launch Thursday of India's heaviest satellite from spaceport of Kourou in French Guyana may have boosted the country's space research efforts to yet another level, but it has also lifted the spirits of at least three Direct-To-Home televisions broadcasters, one of which has been waiting for years to launch its services in India.