Pre-cooler Heat Exchanger Programme Update

The pre-cooler test programme is progressing well and the technical specifications for the high performance heat exchanger modules are being met in our prototype production facility.

A number of manufacturing obstacles have been encountered, however, and, as a result, the testing of a full pre-cooler heat exchanger is running approximately three months behind our ambitions.

As there was highly successful early progress, the programme remains on track to meet the contractual requirements of the European Space Agency due in April 2012.

A Row of Completed Pre-cooler Modules.
Click for larger image.

62nd International Astronautical Congress (IAC)
in Cape Town, South Africa

From 3^rd-7^th October 2011, REL will be exhibiting at the IAC event in South Africa. REL’s Future Programmes Director, Mark Hempsell, will also be presenting papers at the Congress:

Paper 1: Space Station Element Commonality Between LEO and Lunar Infrastructures
(Session B3.2 at 3:00 pm, 4 October 2011, Room TS-03)

Paper 2: Progress on the SKYLON and SABRE Development Programme
(Session D 2.4, at 10:00 am, 5 October 2011, Room TS-02)

During September Mark Hempsell gave a talk on the SKYLON project to the London Materials Society/ Welding and Joining Society.

He also gave a lecture at the British Science Festival this month. The event was organized by the British Science Association and took place at Bradford University.