Project proposal – inquiry points :

Over all plan calls for two location divided facilities, this can cause management and planing issues

Not really. Its been done before. Its a matter of proper planning and proper communications between the sites. Everything – logistics and problem solving – are handled at one site. The physical distance between the two sites is not great.   

AF – The separation of the two sites need to be considered to view the distance and accessibility , since the second site needs distance from the city lights , the gap might be rather big( more the 20 k) and that can cause issues with response time (logistics and administrative). 

I know we are not used to working like Europe or North America, but the logistics are not that complex. Nothing is done on the spur of the moment. Everything is pre planned. Each unit is an independent unit but also modular. Depending what we plan to do at the time. If the unit will be used for general public or part of the Academy studies. That is why everything is pre planned. Logistics is an important physical department of the complex for every faction of the complex and its activities.  Think of us as the Borg. Resistance is futile!! Professionals will take care of that – not the two of us. That is not our job. The Observatory has all it needs to be independent and make money while being an integral part of the Academy. <Logistics and administrative are at the same base. Think of Hebrew University for Agriculture at Rehovot – not in Jerusalem even though it is Hebrew U from Jerusalem. It works.


Training center :

What is the envisioned overall land size for the space training centre , from what I read it is more and some calculation it will be more the a km long and about 600m wide in order to accommodate 
all the structures and facilities. Is this at all realistic ?

Yes. There are enough sites in and near Eilat which can handle it which are not military areas.

AF - We will need a relatively flat location with easy access , Eilat is near mountains- good for the observatory , not good for the hangars and structures , unless we want to “hide” them in a natural curve of a valley ? 

Between Yutvatah and Eilat on the Jordanian / Israeli border and on the Timna side there is land. The Observatory will be in the mountains toward the old Sinai border. It will not be a research observatory even though it will have that type of equipment. Even Mitzpe Ramon has too much light pollution for proper research as it did in the past.


Section a:

Tram transport – how far will the parking be from the access point – this can be a point of congestion and a deterrent to visitors ( we also nee to think of disabled access).

Quite the opposite. We will cut down on congestion and it will be easier to handle large crowds this way. If you make the “ride” attractive and wowish the visitors will want to use it. They think the ride will be free (part of the ticket). It will be ecologically friendly – electric with solar cells or hydrogen using water. Air ports use this and many themed parks do this. It will make life easier for disabled people because it is especially designed for them today.

AF – From my exposure to the tram's in Heathrow and other facilities , the average European is not very polite when boarding or embarking those carriages , and they have better manners then the middle eastern population , so I am not sure this is a good transport option – but worth exploring. 

The tram I am thinking about will look as futuristic as possible. It will not be like the Heathrow tram!!!! I remember how that was. We will have not just a driver, but also “public coordinators” (core like cow herders) to organize the public. The public will not have to use it, but are advised to. The tram is an option / general idea, but not a necessity. Its purpose is for cutting pollution in the complex area and to cut down on traffic congestion – people wise – at the entrance. For the general public it will also explain what can be done at the complex. For the students and organized groups, its purpose is to give them a feeling of being “part of the complex” as soon as they enter. Also, this way they won’t have to carry their baggage. It is with them on the tram. The tram will be a modern version of the “kiddie train” at the Lunapark” in Tel Aviv running around the park. Anyone who really wants to go by foot – in Eilat is welcome to – especially in the summer. Remember, the general Israeli public doesn’t like to walk far. To my sorrow. Especially when it is hot and they have to carry baggage.


Section d:
the proposal calls for 13000 square meter just allocated for the hangars , without any other structure taken in to place , are those size realistic ? Or are those dimensions the “best to hope for” request ?

One hangar contains a 1:1 Space Shuttle which is 36 meters long and a 1:1 ISS Work Unit which is about 20 meters long. There will be a partition for MMC (manned mission control). There will be many other simulators in use for the Academy and visitors all the time just as at Space Camp Alabama. It will also contain Russian training equipment including at least one Soyuz and Soyuz trainer. I hope Virgin Galactic will take part also. It is good for them too with their training and PR program. Israel already signed agreements with them. In 1992 when I managed the Russian Space Exhibit in the Tel Aviv Exhibit Grounds. We had only a 3 thousand meter hangar. It was too small for the equipment and visitors. We could allow only 5,000 visitors at a time – too many for the small area for them. We tried to allow no more than 1,000 at a time for an hour only and it was still heavily crowded. The other hangar contains the Neutral Buoyancy Pool which is large and deep with under water mock-ups for EVA training. There are the changing and shower rooms, med room, control room, equipment room, space suits and other training equipment and simulators. This is a portioned hangar also.

AF – in a dry dessert a pool of that size will be hard to maintain – with water evaporation and water costs , is there a way to use filtered water or see water for the pool ? It might not be an option with the gear but we need to think of the impact of the wasted water . 

A “neutral buoyancy tank” is always in a very large, hangar like, enclosed room. Not just because of evaporation and weather, but because of all the equipment and other conditions necessary for it. That is why it is in one of the hangars which is broken into rooms. Also, unlike the rest of this country, all humidity and evaporation will be recycled and reused for gardening, washing, etc. I’ll send some picture of NASA and Russian NBT’s. Also the NBT has several windows in the sides so visitors and others can see the underwater training – it will also be an attraction for the General Public. Remember, I’m also an ecologist since I was a child – long time! – As much as it will be cost effective all our water will be recycled in various ways and for various uses. This might be part of the research conducted at the complex. Israel is among the most advanced – technologically – for reusing water. Even though we don’t do it here - GGGRRR!!! – We sell our technology to all the world. At my exkibbutz – Kturah – we invented the computerized irrigation systems. The drip line irrigation was invented at kibbutz Hatzarim and we improved upon it as a daughter corporation. We genetically engineered date palm trees, melons, mango and more to require less water and grow in the desert.


Section h:

Dive centers personal will have to have special training to match the needs for space training pool supervision ?

Definitely! But not that much. They are needed to set up some of the underwater equipment. They are mainly needed to accompany the “astronaut” in the space suit to be certain that nothing goes wrong and help if something does. The depth of the tank is about three meters.

I hope we can hire local personnel from the diving centers or have new personnel from Eilat trained for what the law states. They will receive extra specialized training – if necessary – from our Navy or abroad.

AF - I doubt the navy will have the skill set we need , we might need to hire /train personal in the US or Russian schools for the skills needed for space training .

The divers are needed for relatively unskilled labour. They are more like underwater life guards.  All the training is conducted above the pool on dry land – “dress rehearsal” - before they do it underwater. While underwater there are underwater cameras all around – including on the spacesuit, to help the coaches see what is happening, and comm units for complete communication and real-time contact.  There will also be a simple bio telemetry harness on the “astronaut in training” to monitor heart, bp, respiration, oxygen level and content.

Read this article:

http://www.divernet.com/other_diving_topics/commercial_military_diving/160953/how_scuba_helps_us_in_space.html

http://www.ssl.umd.edu/projects/index.shtml


 


 


 

 


 

 


 












We don’t need a pool as big as this – or maybe! ;-)


200 feet long, 40 feet deep


6.2 million gallon pool


       Main ISS truss (across the center)




We can also rent the pool for diving training sessions for clubs that want to use it for their open water basic skills phase.



Exactly!! Also for special water sports, acrobatics and contests. I’m serious! The center should work around the clock and make as much money as possible from everything.

AF – That will require the establishment of a fully equipped scuba club facility . 

Do you have a problem with that? I had that exact thought.

Section PR:

Keeping a PR team on site might not be a good approach as we will want them nearer to media centric places and  where advertising firms are , a spoke person on site , yes but a PR team might be best situated off site (preferably  center of country).

I agree with you completely, but they will still need an on sight office with necessary services. Remember, a PR budget for business economic success is about 12% of the Complex yearly budget.


Section R&D:
will these be theoretical research or more lab work ? Of on line following the latest academic and scientific developments , again keeping them on site is not a benefit .

This is for keeping up on technologies here and a broad which we might need. How we do this will have to be decided. We have to keep on top of anyone else and we can out source what we do. This will have to be decided how we do it optimally.

Section Rocket launching + microG flights 

Air force and Air control permits , Co-ordinate with Jordan and Egypt military for each rocket launch , could be problematic in regards to wind factors and touch down location .  

These will be small Estes rockets. Not the big ones as in my class at school. Maximum single “D” or “E” engines, probably “C”. No “G”. Even so we can probably reach an agreement. I hope eventually to joint this project with Jordan. Forget Egypt for any project in our future. SpaceIl will be glad to work with us.


AF – Still any rocket launch – even low engine ones will need to be done with the Jordanians and the army fully aware well ahead of time , we might even try to do a “G” show and invite the King ???

EXACTLY!!!!  I hope to involve Jordan in the project. If not from them beginning then eventually. Any joint project between us makes the U.S. also take a third of the project. 


Plane cost + fuel , I am not sure the Eilat air strip can accommodate crafts that can reach the altitude and speed needed for Zero G flights. As the runway is too short and allows only prop planes – not Jet powered flight – for noise reasons, however this can be attempted  as a joined venture with the Jordanian ST center – as they have an International Airstrip in Aqaba.  

First of all El Al flies several jets a day to Eilat, but the turbo props of Arkia with slight hydraulic modifications are good enough for the 25,000 feet 450 manoeuvres needed for the flights above the Arava. I’m glad you think like me. I hope to joint venture with Jordan. We don’t have to do everything here. This will make logistics harder, but a joint venture will make the U.S. take a part in our venture too. Any Israeli / Jordanian venture makes the U.S. take a third part of the project as far as everything is concerned.

 








 
Boeing 727


How it Works
Aboard our specially modified Boeing 727, G-FORCE ONE, weightlessness is achieved by doing aerobatic maneuvers known as parabolas. Specially trained pilots perform these aerobatic maneuvers which are not simulated in any way. ZERO-G’s passengers experience true weightlessness.
Before starting a parabola, G-FORCE ONE flies level to the horizon at an altitude of 24,000 feet. The pilots then begins to pull up, gradually increasing the angle of the aircraft to about 45° to the horizon reaching an altitude of 34,000 feet. During this pull-up, passengers will feel the pull of 1.8 Gs. Next the plane is “pushed over” to create the zero gravity segment of the parabola. For the next 20-30 seconds everything in the plane is weightless. Next a gentle pull-out is started which allows the flyers to stabilize on the aircraft floor. This maneuver is repeated 12-15 times, each taking about ten miles of airspace to perform.
In addition to achieving zero gravity, G-FORCE ONE also flies a parabola designed to offer Lunar gravity (one sixth your weight) and Martian gravity (one third your weight). This is created by flying a larger arc over the top of the parabola.
G-FORCE ONE flies in a FAA designated airspace that is approximately 100 miles long and ten miles wide. Usually three to five parabolas are flown consecutively with short periods of level flight between each set.

http://www.gozerog.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Experience.Weightless_Weddings



 
Small company using a Piper

AF – as far as I know ElAl does not fly to Eilat – it is charter with Arkia or Sun-Dor that fly those flights and they use prop planes .

El Al tried to get prices down and screw Arkia about a year ago. They have several 737 jet flights a day to Eilat. They turbo props used in Arkia have also been used for Zero – G flights. They have a smaller internal fuselage than a jet, which means you fly fewer people. We will have to try and contact one of the already existing Zero-G flight companies abroad and see if we can interest them in setting up here, be consultants for us or any other way. Remember, we are not limited to just the local public. We want to attract visitors and users from all over the world. This is on way to do it. As soon as I log in the our server I will start sending you a lot of background material so you will have about as much knowledge about what we are doing as possible without your being here.

Assi, have you been here yet for a visit?

http://www.spacecentre.co.uk/Page.aspx/2/VISIT_US/

Look at this US Space Camp  link:

http://www.spacecamp.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=138

