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SUMMARY:Skylon: Britain's future of aviation - Mark Hempsell\, Future Prog
 rammes Director\, Reaction Engines Ltd
DTSTART:20131021T173000Z
DTEND:20131021T193000Z
UID:TALK47320@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Publicity Officer\, IMechE Beds &amp\; Cambs area
DESCRIPTION:SKYLON is an unpiloted\, reusable spaceplane intended to provi
 de reliable\, responsive and cost effective access to space. Currently in 
 early development phase\, the vehicle will be capable of transporting 15 t
 onnes of cargo into space. It is the use of SABRE's combined air-breathing
  and rocket cycles that enables a vehicle that can take off from a runway\
 , fly direct to earth orbit and return for a runway landing\, just like an
  aircraft.\n\nSKYLON uses SABRE engines in air-breathing mode to accelerat
 e from take-off to Mach 5.5 which allows 1\,250 tonnes of atmospheric air 
 to be captured and used in the engines\, saving the need to carry 250 tonn
 es of oxygen in propellant tanks. At Mach 5.5 and 25 kilometres altitude t
 he SABRE engine transitions to its rocket engine mode\, using liquid oxyge
 n stored on board SKYLON\, to complete its ascent to orbit at a speed of M
 ach 25. In this space access application\, SABRE engines need an operation
 al life of only 55 hours to achieve 200 flights\, significantly less than 
 the 10\,000s of hours needed for conventional jet engines.\n\nMark Hempsel
 l is Future Programmes Director of Reaction Engines Ltd.  He was appointed
  to the Board of in 2008.\n\nMark formerly worked as a Spacecraft Systems 
 Engineer for British Aerospace Space Division and as Senior Lecturer in As
 tronautics at the University of Bristol\, with significant expertise in sa
 tellite programmes and space infrastructure.  Mark is a past President of 
 the British Interplanetary Society and a former Editor of the Society‘s 
 Journal.\n\nTime: Refreshments served from 18.30. Talk starts at 19.00. En
 ds around 20.30 following questions and discussion.\n\nVenue: Lecture Room
  4\, Cambridge University Engineering Department\, Trumpington Street\, Ca
 mbridge CB2 1PZ (directions). There is limited parking available on site.\
 n\nFree to attend. Registration not required. All welcome.\n\nThis talk is
  open to the public and is suitable for students and engineers. You are en
 couraged to bring with you colleagues\, friends and members of your family
  who are interested in engineering\, rocket engines and space.\n\nA poster
  to advertise this event can be downloaded from the event website at http:
 //tinyurl.com/q6zket7
LOCATION:Lecture Room 4\, Cambridge University Engineering Department\, Tr
 umpington Street\, Cambridge CB2 1PZ
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