First Announcement

A two-day workshop in Svetlogorsk, Kaliningrad Reg., Russia  is organized in connection with 50th anniversary of EDB 'FAKEL', the world-known Russian manufacturer of the SPT type electric thrusters and EP systems.
The workshop goal is to generate free discussions between the research laboratories, industry, government and business with a view to highlight current and future needs of the electric propulsion developments.
Several distinguished speakers representing space consortiums from Russia, USA and Europe are invited to give a talk.
Pre & post workshop events include jubilee meeting, 'Fakel' facility tours, scrumptious night dinner, scenic Baltic Sea coastwise walk, etc.

Transfer: flight to Kaliningrad via Warsaw (LOT) or Moscow (Aeroflot)
Date: September 15-16, 2005
Contacts: phone +70112461616, +70112456670, fax +70112538472, e-mail fakel@gazinter.net

 Organizing Committee

Speaker: Vyacheslav Murashko, EDB Fakel

The results of development of Electric Propulsion Thrusters in EDB Fakel and their application in space technologies are further informational evolution of data included into technical reports on EDB Fakel developments concerning Electric Propulsion Units (EPU) in former USSR and Russia.
Fakel started working upon EPU in 1959. The Pulsed Plasma Thrusters, Electrothermal Thrusters (ETT), Arcjets, Magnetoplasmadynamic Thrusters (MPD), Ion Thrusters and Hall Thrusters, thermal accumulating gas thrusters were studied and developed. The biggest progress has been made in developing Stationary Plasma Thrusters (SPT) with closed drift of electrons using xenon which accomplished successfully the task of stationkeeping for METEOR and METEOR-PRIRODA spacecraft  in 1970?s and have been integrated with spacecraft KOSMOS and LUTCH since 1982 and with SC GALS and EXPRESS since 1994.
The current EPU designs at Fakel meet the world standard of space technologies development and are used in various Russian and international programs (e.g.- SESAT, KAZSAT, MBSat, Yakhta, Intelsat, Inmarsat SC of a new generation for the orbital constellation GLONASS), Yamal.
The development of EPU in EDB Fakel has been successfully continued.

Vyacheslav M. Murashko is the director and chief designer of Fakel EDB.

Mr. Murashko graduated from Kharkov Aviation Institute in 1972; Doctor of Technical Sciences, is rewarded the RF Government Award, full member of the Tsiolkovsky Russian Academy of Cosmonautics, honorary professor of the Zhukovsky National Aerospace University (Kharkov Aviation Institute)

2. Starting all from the beginning. Untold pages of historical SPT-propelled Meteor flight preparation.

Speaker: Prof. Alexey I. Morozov, Kurchatov Institute

The Kurchatov Institute and its Department of Plasma Investigations, which was guided by an outstanding scientist, academician Lev Artsimovitch, played the role of scientific, and, in many cases, design center of electric propulsion activities in 1960-th and the beginning of 1970-th. The SPT concept appeared in 1962, the first experiments began at the end of 1963.
A very important work on investigations of processes in SPT, on optimization its design and characteristics was done by the end of 1968. It became clear, that we had created a reliable and convenient engine, which was able to operate in wide power range (main investigation were performed in range 3-5 kW).
The achieved SPT parameters put on the agenda the space test of SPT. The head of our Institute, academician A. Alexandrov, undertook to organize our relations with chief designers of spacecrafts. In the middle of 1969 he came to agreement with chief designer of "Meteor" satellite, academician A. losiphyan, about placing our thruster on the Satellite. In December, 1969, we received from Mr. losiphyan a RFP on thrust unit with SPT. It was a very tough RFP. We had to design a thruster in - new for us - power range (400 W), economical neutralizers (cathodes-compensators), systems of gas storage and feed, systems of power supply and control, providing not less than 100 hours of continuous operation. And we had only 5 months for the whole work...

Aleksey I. Morozov is the creator of Stationary Plasma Thruster (SPT) and the manager of a research program performed in Fakel EDB in 1970s.
Prof. Aleksey Morozov, a world-famous scientist, has fundamentally contributed to the controlled thermonuclear fusion and is one of the founders of plasma dynamics. He has been training and educating future experts in EP systems and physics of plasma.
In 1960-70s Mr. Morozov headed the inter-departmental EPS workshop. He has a number of the RF government and scientific awards and prizes.
Last 10 years he worked under the program on creation of a high-efficiency SPT (up to 70%) with a small divergence angle, in co-operation with MIREA.

3. Flight experience and prospects of EP and EPS utilization onboard the spacecraft manufactured by NPO PM.

Speaker: Albert G. Kozlov, NPO PM

In order to ensure succession, replenishment and evolution of national satellite constellations in accordance with the Russia Federal Space Program as well as under international agreements, in NPO PM we have been working on a number of advanced satellite projects based on previous space platform designs with pressurized containers ('Express-M') as well as on new space platforms generation of unpressurized design ('Express-1000' for small satellites, 'Express-2000' for heavy platforms) etc.

NPO PM has a unique -more than 40-year- experience in operation of satellites of in-house design on all phases of their flight tests and exploitation using plasma propulsion, including:

- initial regime of a satellite injection into orbit;
- injections of satellites separated from a bunch into specified orbits;
- individual satellite high-precision putting, stationkeeping at a specified point, GEO permanent orientation for heavy space platforms.

Albert G. Kozlov is the chief designer and director general of Reshetnev's NPO PM (the Research and Production Association of Applied Mechanics), Doctor of Technical Sciences, member of both the Russian and International Engineering Academies, the RF government award winner.

Mr. Kozlov graduated from Tomsk Polytechnical University (former Institute) in 1959 and started working for NPO PM as a radio engineer. During 1980-1985 Mr Kozlov was a deputy chief designer, and in 1985-1996 the first deputy chief designer and director general of NPO PM. Since 1996 Albert G. Kozlov has been the chief designer and the director general of Reshetnev's NPO PM.

4. Widening of national satellite communication system - future plans.

Speaker: Yurii D. Izmailov, Russian Satellite Communications Company

Nowadays, the situation on the market of space communications is rather difficult. After a long period there are more offers than enquiries on the world market now. However, the market of Russia is far from its satiety: there are many territories where space communications are the only means for infrastructure development as well as rendering communication services in the public, private and business interests. We have great expectations for implementation of the 'Express-AM' launches project. In 2006-2010, advanced 'Express-AM' spacecrafts are planned for development and launch. They will have more powerful C, Ku and L-channels, and the capacity of each satellite will be 30 transponders. Creation of small, 'Express-MD'-type, communication satellites having 10-12 transponders is also envisaged. By 2010 five 'Express-AM'-type and five 'Express-MD'-type satellites are offered to launch. In 2011-2015, it is proposed to launch 3 high-power platforms of 'Express-AMU'-type, 2 medium-class 'Express-AM', and 2 small satellites of 'Express-MD' type.

Yurii D. Izmailov is the Russian Satellite Communications Company Director General

Speaker: C. Hoeber, Space System Loral

Commercial satellites began with communications applications forty years ago and their evolution was driven by technology. The idea itself was pushing the envelope and all of the incremental advances since then have been driven by pushing the technology envelope. But today, the commercial satellite industry is mature and, at least in the area of communications, other factors are now driving the industry. This talk will address two of the factors driving the industry today, and the likely place for Electric Propulsion in this environment. First, today there is a surplus of transponders available on-orbit, and the new Private Equity owners of most of the established satellite services providers has taken a very go-slow approach towards the addition of additional capacity. The replacement transponder market, therefore, is focused on relatively small, low cost spacecraft. This market does not want more or bigger; it wants the same capacity that is currently in place for replacement purposes, and it wants it as cheaply as possible. This demand looks like it may bring to a halt the four decade long trend towards bigger and more capable spacecraft. Second, there is a counter-trend to the transponder market, which I refer to as the Direct-to-User market. Currently, there are four examples in this category currently providing service: DBS or DTH television broadcast, DARS or digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB), Two-way Broadband, and GEO Mobile. All of these services are growing, entrepreneurial, and competitive. For them, bigger is better. They are all driving a new generation of bigger and more powerful spacecraft. This talk discusses how a well conceived scalable design can meet all three demands simultaneously, and makes some predictions of the directions of future spacecraft evolution. Surprisingly, perhaps, Electric Propulsion can have a role in both the low and high ends of this scalable design.

Christopher F. Hoeber is senior vice president, program management & systems engineering for Space Systems/Loral (SS/L), a full-service provider of commercial communications satellites.
Mr. Hoeber has been in the commercial satellite business throughout his 33-year career, serving in systems test and engineering, and program and functional management.
Mr. Hoeber is an Associate Fellow in the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and a member of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE).

Speaker: Philippe Pham, EADS Astrium

Plasma propulsion systems have been advocated for many years for various satellite applications, and for station keeping operations, in particular for geostationary telecommunications missions. The large fuel savings they offer compared to conventional chemical propulsion systems (a factor in the order of 5) offers very significant mass savings at satellite level. As a result, most satellite prime contractors now offer some form of electric propulsion for their latest platforms, either as a baseline or as an option.

Philippe Pham is the head of the Satellite Product and Eurostar Division. Since 2001 Mr. Pham worked in the Telecommunications Satellites Business Unit - Satellite Product Division.

Speaker: Mike L. Day, ISTI

At nearly 15 years of age, ISTI is believed to be the oldest US-Russian aerospace joint venture.  During that time, the ISTI partners have seen vast changes in the geopolitical climate and economic environment, while successfully bringing the SPT from a secret accomplishment of the former Soviet Union to its current status as an international industry benchmark for electric propulsion.  This talk will explore the history of the ISTI collaboration and what it has brought its founders, investors and customers.  ISTI's accomplishments and prospects will be discussed, as well as the lessons learned from the many challenges during this time.

Since its founding in 1992, Mr. Day has been a Vice President of International Space Technology, Inc. (ISTI), responsible for all day to day activities of ISTI. 
Mr. Day joined Space Systems/Loral's (SS/L) Propulsion Engineering Department in 1979 and worked with various liquid, solid and electric propulsion devices throughout the 1980?s.
Starting in 1989, he became interested in Hall-current plasma sources and, in 1991, led SS/L's technical efforts directed at validating the Fakel SPT for use on Western spacecraft flight qualified.

Speaker: Nicolas Cornu, SNECMA Moteurs

The European probe SMART-1 is now orbiting the Moon and performing a first phase of scientific observation of the Moon`s surface.
The foreseen collection of scientific data will be much larger and of higher quality than initially planned thanks to the very good performances of the Hall Effect Thruster - based Electric Propulsion that was used for the transfer from its initial GTO orbit around the Earth to its orbits around the Moon for the observation phases. In particular, as a result of the good performances:
 - the transfer duration to the Moon capture has been shortened from 18 months down to 13 months;
- the selected altitudes for the observation phases are much lower than initially planned enabling higher resolutions during the observation;
- the scientific mission, initially planned for a duration of six months will be extended by twelve months with intermediate ?repositioning? phases where the Electric Propulsion will be fired using the propellant reserves saved during the transfer from the Earth to the Moon.
This first successful planetary - like mission is a clear demonstration of the interest of Electric Propulsion based on Hall Effect Thruster for other more ambitions Planetary missions and specially the ones foreseen under international cooperation to go back to the Moon or to go to Mars.

Nicolas Cornu graduated from Institut National des Sciences Appliquées (France) and Quebec University (Canada). Now Mr. Cornu is SNECMA Moteurs Plasma & Chemical Propulsion Technical Manager.

Speaker:  Yuri Sokolov, TSNIIMASH

Space activity contributions in solving of global problems of our civilization development have been steadily increasing. The results are mainly achieved in the domains where the space means and resources have been beyond comparison with the ground ones:
- exploration of Solar system, space and the human in space;
- information communications ;
- monitoring of outer space, Earth`s surface and atmosphere;
- micro-gravitation technologies.
The tendency towards further development of these areas will remain due to improvement of dedicated equipment as well as increase of spacecraft amount. Qualitative leaps are only possible on the basis of exploitation of new generation space vehicles.
The problem of quantitative forecasting assessment based on analysis and synthesis of efficient strategies (guaranteeing, fractional, flexible) within the methodology of decision substantiation under uncertainty circumstances is under discussion.
On the basis of efficient combination of limited-outflow velocity propulsion with limited-power propulsion for transportation problem solving, the place and importance of transport modules on EP for Earth-Moon space infrastructure development has been shown.

Yuri Sokolov graduated from the Popov Higher Naval School of Radio Electronics in former Leningrad (1961).
Since 1965 he has been working for TSNIIMASH, and since 2004 has been the chief of Rocketry & Space Technology (RST) development testing and reliability/safety division.
Mr. Sokolov is occupied with preplanning and expertise of programs for reliability & safety control, comprehensive plans of experimental development of the most of rocket & space systems.
Candidate of Technical Sciences (since 1987). Member of the Tsiolkovsky Russian Academy of Cosmonautics (2004)

Speaker: Dr. David Manzella, NASA Glenn Research Center

On January 14, 2004 President George W. Bush announced a new directive for the United States' space exploration program.  This has resulted in renewed plans for exploring the solar system, returning men to the Moon, and ultimately sending humans to Mars and beyond. To support this broad and ambitious plan in an economically sustainable fashion advanced propulsion will be required. This talk discusses specific potential opportunities for electric propulsion to support this vision.

David Manzella has graduated from Stanford University. He is a research engineer and electric propulsion expert from the NASA Glenn Research Center. His research of on-orbit electric propulsion plasma engines has primarily focused on Hall thruster development and Hall thruster spacecraft integration. Dr. Manzella is currently responsible for developing Hall thruster propulsion to support future NASA exploration missions.

6. Current view on export compliance issues with respect to data access and technology exchange under the international program of cooperation in the nuclear-electric propulsion area.

Speaker: Yu. A. Stepanishchev, Ministry of Defence, Russia

Ambitious prospective space missions in the coming decades, especially those which cost fundamentally exceeds viable governmental resources of one country, would certainly require establishing significant level of international interest and involvement.

A list of key advances enabling 'breakthrough' in projected future space transportation systems that must be co-developed internationally appears to comprise hundreds of sensitive technologies, including, but not limited to solar and nuclear electric propulsion, that are currently subject of export control regulations.

This talk discusses a vision of Export Control Department of the Ministry of Defense for opportunities and issues in the development of 'transparent' export compliance policy enabling cooperation in this area.

Yurii Stepanishchev is a leading export control expert of Russian Ministry of Defense (MOD). He was involved in the development of export compliance policy of RF in the field of rocket and dual technologies, including electric and nuclear propulsion. As empowered governmental representative Mr. Stepanishchev directly observed the process of providing SPTs for Western spacecraft since 1998.
Currently Mr. Stepanishchev is Deputy Director of the Export Control Department of the Russian MOD.