Mark Blair May 1994 mnb@dtsos3.dsto.gov.au AUSROC PROGRAM UPDATE AUSROC II-2 Word has recently been received from HQ-Australian Defence Force that our request to use the Woomera Rocket Range in SA for the Ausroc II-2 launch has been approved and that the costs associated with the trial will be waivered. This response now clears the way for us to work out the finer details of when an how the trial is to proceed with staff from RAAF-ARDU. We would like to pass on our thanks and appreciation to the RAAF and HQ-ADF for their continuing support of the Ausroc program and practical space education within Australia. In regard to the Ausroc II-2 hardware, things have been progressing at a steady level and we hope to be able to commence final assembly of the vehicle structure within the next 6-8 weeks. Essentially all of the internal systems such as valves, actuators, check valves, plumbing, hatches, mounting adaptors, pressurisation system, recovery system and fin unit are complete and awaiting installation into the vehicle when the flight tanks are completed in the coming weeks. The electronics is complete, with the exception of the memory board, and is being prepared for a comprehensive series of tests in the near future. Test equipment is currently being fabricated for use in this program. Approval for the use of Building 5, at the ex-ADI Salisbury site, has been granted and we expect to have the key to the building as soon as some legal and insurance issues have been addressed by the government. All going well, the final assembly of Ausroc II-2 will be undertaken at this location. AUSROC III In total, 31 students are involved with the Ausroc III program in 1994 which makes this year the most active year to date. Already, test rigs for the hydraulic gimbal system and the cold gas roll control system have been designed and are in the process of being manufactured at Adelaide Uni. The launch pad, tower and supporting ground infrastructure are making significant progress at the Uni. of Southern Qld. and we hope to have these items manufactured by the end of the year in preparation for tests in early 1995. Students from Sydney Uni. recently visited the composites facilities at Hawker de Havilland to see, first hand, how composite structures are fabricated and they are well on the way to designing the various fairings for Ausroc III. All going well, they may be able to produce several test fairings by the end of the year. Th Uni. of SA students are at the stage of producing hardware for the telemetry system. Prototype circuit boards will be manufactured in the near future. The target, here, is to produce an end-to-end system by the end of the year to get the signals from sensors conditioned, multiplexed, encoded, transmitted, received, decoded, analysed and displayed. Students from Qld. Uni. of Technology are working on the problem of range safety, impact prediction, tracking and flight termination. This system is planned to be implemented at the Woomera Range in support of the Ausroc III flight safety requirement. In addition to these student projects, numerous members will be involved in providing technical and academic assistance to the students as well as undertaking various other projects. These other projects include the glide recovery parachute system and the Ausroc III rocket motor development. We have recently received permission from ADI property division to use the Ravenhall Static Test site at Deer Park in Melbourne until a decision regarding its' future is confirmed. Several members are now preparing to refurbish the site in preparation for firings later this year. As soon as Building 5 becomes available, regular monthly meetings will be held at this location for students and members from Adelaide to attend. The Ausroc III activity is increasing and we are looking forward to seeing much hardware being produced over the course of the year.