ABOUT US
ABDUL M. ISMAIL
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Abdul M. Ismail is the Owner & Chief Engineer of INTERPLANETARY EXPEDITIONS. Born on 7th August 1970 in Salford, UK, he grew up in Seaforth, North of Liverpool and was educated at Chesterfield High School, Crosby. In 1991, he graduated with a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Mechanical, Aeronautical and Production Engineering from Kingston Polytechnic, Surrey (located just on the outskirts of Southwest London). By 1994, he completed a Bachelors of Engineering (BEng) with Honours in Aerospace Engineering from Kingston University.
In 1995, he was employed by Wickman Spacecraft & Propulsion Company where he worked as a space propulsion engineer on a NASA SBIR Phase 1 project titled "LOX Monopropellant". During this period, he also assisted the company's President with experiments that contributed to a series of books titled "How to Make Amateur Rockets".
Returning to the UK in late 1995, he then worked towards entry to the Royal Military College of Science to study a Master of Science in Explosives Ordnance Engineering which he began in 1997 but departed shortly after receiving an appealing invitation from his former employer to participate in a NASA/JPL SBIR Phase 2 on a project titled "Martian Propulsion System" that used carbon dioxide (which constitutes ~95% of the Martian atmosphere) as the oxidiser and magnesium metal powder (which constitutes ~4% of the Martian soil) as the fuel. The logic of the concept was to develop a propulsion system that could employ chemicals found entirely on Mars.
Following successful conclusion of the project, he returned the to UK and provided occasional advice to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Explosives Directorate on rocket propellants used in amateur rocket motors as well as successfully encourage the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to incorporate the rules and regulations of the newly formed UK Rocket Association as guidance for launching amateur rockets into UK airspace.
In 2001, he graduated with an MSc in Space Studies from the International Space University in Strasbourg, France and in March 2009, he registered with Kingston University to pursue a research degree to address an "In-Situ Resource Utilisation" propulsion system.
INTERPLANETARY EXPEDITIONS
INTERPLANETARY EXPEDITIONS is a sole trading company established in the UK in 2002 under Unique Tax Reference number 15205 92845.
The company was set up to work on two aspects within the space sector.
1. Advanced Space Propulsion Systems
Reducing transit time is the key to increasing success in future human expeditions beyond CIS Lunar orbit. Unfortunately, the majority of proposed mission scenarios presented by NASA and ESA seem content with employing conventional chemical propulsion systems - systems that have already reached their theoretical maximum where a Type 2 burn would require at least 9 months transit time to Mars. During this period, the crew could be subject to high doses of radiation from freak solar flares and should one system malfunction, there will be no chance of rescue. It is therefore our conclusion that existing (conventional chemical and electric) space propulsion systems are not adequate to meet the needs and requirements for future human missions to the rest of the solar system. To this end, our company decided to take the initiative and work on future near term advanced propulsion systems that would afford single stage Earth-to-Orbit transportation as well as drastically reduce transit times to the Moon and Mars missions.
The company is continuing self-funded research and plans to produce a prototype in the next 5 years.
2. Assisting Developing & Aspiring Space Nations to Obtain Space Technology
Concept Marketing: This aspect may be considered one of the most important elements of our company's service. Without political support for public sector projects, organisations within developing and aspiring space nations will never see space projects come to fruition. We have proven experience in successfully marketing the concept of why developing and aspiring space nations should invest in space technology. This consulting activity takes several months and could include a professional development program where the nation's decision makers define national policy based on space technology and applications. This entire exercise is to convince the politicians and government advisers (i.e. the civil servants) to take a more proactive role and invest in space projects.
Satellite Turn Key Solutions: After liasing with a number of potential clients, we found that they have become increasingly disenchanted with some satellite suppliers. Geopolitical situations also serves to deter the client nation from being offered exactly what they want. Earth observation satellites are dual use in terms of technology and application and the resolution of satellite instrument often dictates what can or cannot be supplied. Our company believes that any client should be able to procure what it wishes and, as a result, a great deal of effort is spent on seeking and locating satellite suppliers who will conform to the exact client requirements.
Advanced Satellite Engineering Training: Ensuring that advanced engineering training for a team of up to forty mechanical, electronic and aerospace engineers is a condition that our company will not falter on. We work on behalf of the client to ensure that its best interest is always placed at the top of any agenda and this includes comprehensive technology transfer as a prerequisite to any programs that we broker on behalf of the client.
Satellite AIV Facilities: So, now you have a satellite, ground station, operational training and advanced satellite engineering training. What's next? One relatively simply observation was that there were no commercial suppliers of satellite assembly, integration and verification (AIV) facilities so after considerable research, we located and signed an agreement with a supplier of AIV facilities to offer client organisations complete facilities, including a clean room environment. These facilities can be developed to cater for satellites of any mass and size, for example; 100kg, 350kg, 500kg or higher. Subject to export control approval, these facilities can be supplied together with comprehensive know-how "operational" training so a team of engineers may learn all aspects of operating all components, not just for space projects but also for terrestrial projects.
Professional Development Programs: One of the most important aspects of our company's services is the series of professional development programs (PDPs) that we offer. The majority of our international experts are former or present faculty members from the International Space University. The courses that we offer are not simply based on the ISU's academic curriculum. In fact, the courses were formulated in a way to assist with defining national policy so one can even assume that the PDPs are part taught, part consulting. The courses that are presently being offered are space policy, space law, space business marketing and management, space insurance, civil protection/disaster management using a combination of space and terrestrial technologies as well as system AIV, AIV planning and AIV facilities. The AIV course differs from the operational engineering training offered as part of the package when one procures the AIV facilities since this PDP was developed to assist senior managers and satellite engineers to learn how to better manage satellite projects during the AIV process as well as select the most appropriate components of the AIV facilities to cater for national requirements. All of the PDPs are 5-days apart from the course in space insurance which is 1½ days and civil protection/disaster management which is 8-days. Our international experts plus a company representative will always come to the client nation to manage and conduct the PDP.
Project Financing: Prior to your satellite being launched, management may wish to train the ground station staff and prepare them for any eventualities. INTERPLANETARY EXPEDITIONS can facilitate an introduction to a supplier that can define, into its model, the precise specifications of the national satellite system and as many real-life scenarios as can be imagined. Once a satellite has been launched, the data acquired will have to be managed in an organised fashion. Data Management Systems can handle such workloads with ease and our company has pertinent connections with such a supplier.
The space sector isn't just about satellites/interplanetary spacecraft, launch vehicles and space tourism. It's an interdisciplinary industry with numerous supporting services. INTERPLANETARY EXPEDITIONS has agreements with a number of organisations to fulfil these requirements.
Airships/UAV: Remote sensing of terrestrial and planetary bodies can often be performed by high altitude airships or unmanned aerial vehicles. INTERPLANETARY EXPEDITIONS has an agreement with the foremost expert in the development of high altitude balloons and can also supply UAVs whose system will be pre-designed to take images within a national geographic boundary.
Space Music: As part of the company's service to the space sector, INTERPLANETARY EXPEDITIONS promotes two US based "new age" music composers and can arrange for live ambient concerts for receptions or as a larger event as well as compositions to accompany promotional videos.
Space Insurance: Protecting ones investment from possible loss during the launch campaign or in-space operation is essential. Our company has a cordial relationship with one London based space insurance broker and introductions can be facilitated, if required.
Satellite Tool Kit: INTERPLANETARY EXPEDITIONS has an agreement with Analytical Graphics, Inc., to market STK to developing nations. The product falls under strict regulations and not all nations can procure the software.
Scale Replicas: In addition to these principal services, our company can also supply large scale replicas of launch vehicles and satellites and have them delivered any where in the world. The launch vehicles replicas can are range from 2m (~6ft) to 3m (~9ft) tall and are built specifically to order. They are made from fibre-glass reinforced plastic and shipped in aluminium boxes to protect the product during shipment. These professionally developed replicas can often be seen at exhibitions such as the International Astronautical Congress, Farnborough Air Show and Le Bourget (the Paris Air Show).