[ad_1]
The Scottish-made components that will land on Mars in February are the “heart” of NASA’s Perseverance Rover, on a journey to collect samples on a mission that conjures images of potential in space travel that now feels less like science fiction.
However, the more than three miles of wires and cables running through Rover-like veins join previous parts already on Mars belonging to WL Gore, Dundee Space’s hub is at the heart of its global pace operations and connected to two previous ones. NASA factual research on Mars missions.
Kit Gore was also on the moon before humanity, as part of an exploratory mission, recalls Jeff Fyfe, head of the space division.
READ MORE: Scottish technology on a mission to Mars on NASA’s Rover
In addition to working with NASA and the European Space Aency, the company has Lockheed Martin, Boeing and Airbus among those in its order books, and currently operates in traditional space and “NewSpace”, where rapid connectivity is the goal and could there are different requirements than in previous days – Gore was founded in 1958.
“We started working with NASA in the early 1960s. Space was really one of our first markets that we ventured into with our wire and cable products, “Fyfe said.” We worked with them on some missions towards the big one, which was the Apollo 11 landing on the moon in July 1969, and it happened that in 1969, at that time, we also discovered that PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) could be expanded, and that’s what we now call Gore-Tex.
“We actually went to the moon before Neil Armstrong. It was really to conduct experiments prior to the Apollo lunar module landing, so that they could determine if the weight of the module could have landed on the moon and, of course, could. ”
READ MORE: Monday interview: “We are back in operation after only two days of closure”
He said: “So we’ve been making wire and cable solutions for going into space for nearly 60 years, and we’re very proud of that.
The current kit that sails to Mars at around 60,000 mph is “basically the heart of the Perseverance Rover”.
“There is about three and a half miles of cable on the Perseverance Rover, which is pretty impressive when you think about something the size of a car.
The rover will retrieve samples and leave them in sealed ships for future missions to be collected and analyzed.
“It’s all about determining if there are or have been signs of life,” Fyfe said.
“It’s not actually the first time we’ve gone to Mars. We are already there. The first trip was in November 2011, it was called Curiosity. The second trip was in May 2018 and was called the InSight mission “.
NASA Perseverance Mission March 2020
Regarding a future direction of the business, he said: “You can define space in two ways. There’s what we call traditional space, which is what’s been around for the last few decades, and then there’s this thing that’s emerging now, it’s called NewSpace.
“It is a radical global transformation that NewSpace is having in terms of impact. It is people like Elon Musk, Richard Branson, Jeff Bezos, who are funding these activities. It is mainly to connect the world. Half of the world still has no way to connect, and it’s a fundamental human right to have that connectivity. ”
“There are thousands (of satellites) planned to be launched in the next few years, and it’s about connecting the world.”
He reflects: “I am often asked what did you do before joining Gore? I always tell people that I played soccer with my friends and went to school, because I did, I joined Gore straight from school. company, I was the youngest co-worker or employee, I have now been working with Gore for 39 years and have now been serving for the longest time.
“It’s not often that you see companies that offer that kind of longevity if you want, so it’s a fantastic organization to work for.”
He added: “Gore is really super proud to be a part of those missions to the moon, Mars and beyond, and the work we do today, with NASA and the European Space Agency, will have a huge impact on many of our generations. coming. So I say, buckle up, it’s going to be a fun ride. ”
Questions and answers
Which countries did you enjoy most traveling to, for business or pleasure, and why?
Most of my business trips take me to the USA or Germany, I like to see different cultures and also to visit our different manufacturing plants. For leisure, I would say that Palma de Mallorca was my biggest surprise when I made my first trip, I was not expecting such a lively city with very friendly locals. I enjoyed it so much that I have now been there three times on vacation and coincidentally also once for a business meeting.
When you were a child, what was your ideal job?
I wanted to be an architect
Why did you appeal?
Drawing and painting were one of my passions. When I was in school I saw an ad for a “drawing assistant” in Gore. They were looking for someone to produce the cable and assembly drawings. When I applied for the job I was 16, I was delighted when I secured the role and 39 years later I’m still in the company. I quickly learned not to make mistakes, CAD was not invented and my drawings were on paper with a ballpoint pen, it was not possible to “backspace” or “cut and paste”.
What was your biggest breakthrough in business?
A few years ago I worked on aircraft programs and was a member of an International Standards Committee. For years, NATO lived with a known problem, but Gore developed a solution to solve the problem. When we shared the concept with the standards committee chair, he dismissed it as being independently developed with private investment. Luckily most of the committee members realized we had the only solution suitable for use and talked to me during the break-outs. It was 20 years ago, today most of NATO planes fly with the Gore solution and still today it remains the only one that works.
What was your worst moment in business?
By making difficult choices that impact employees and the way they work, some decisions unfortunately have an impact.
Who do you admire most and why?
I was lucky enough to have met our founder, Bill Gore, a couple of times and it was very inspiring. 35 years ago he was giving a speech at one of our factories. He wasn’t a very tall man, so we could hear him but not see him. We turned a milk crate upside down so it could fit on it and I’ll never forget what he said “the man who never made a mistake, never did anything”. He encouraged us to take risks and I still use that quote today after all these years.
What book are you reading, what was the last movie you saw and what music are you listening to?
- BOOK – I only pick up a book when on vacation or on a plane and as neither is happening at the moment I am not reading much this said I like autobiographies and would recommend Peter Kay but be careful not to make him laugh out loud.
- MOVIES – I’m a bit of a gas station attendant so I like shows like Top Gear, but I recently saw an old movie I had seen before: Bullit with Steve McQueen dating back to 1968, the car chase is great.
- MUSIC – I joined Gore in 1981, so it’s no secret that anything from the 80s works for me, my playlist drives people crazy when they come to see me.
[ad_2]
Source link
