Astronautics

Why do we explore outer space?

China, 13th century – the first attempts to reach space were made using gunpowder. It was only in the 20th century, however, that research in the area of rocket science made the determining break through. Fueled by the interests of the military and various political circumstances, the first man was sent to space. This was of great importance in the Cold War, as it meant better strategical positions and more prestige for the more advanced Party.

Research and Development

It was in the mid-80s when efficient research platforms were available for the first time. Right from the beginning there were gigantic crowds of scientists who urged for their ideas to be put forward and for their measurement devices to be installed into the space shuttle. These kinds of experiments were also set up by DORNIER in Friedrichshafen.

Testing Systems

Originally, the space shuttle computers designed to test the experiments were difficult and expensive to build. With Heimann’s software, however, it was possible to use ordinary computers as testing systems.

Integrations

While it was usual to do site acceptance tests using complex laser technology at the start of the space shuttle era, later, it was possible to do site acceptance tests using Heimann’s software and a Laptop.

Live Monitoring

After Heimann’s software established itself as a reliable substitute for space shuttle computers measurement results from the John F Kennedy Space Center in the orbit were recorded with it on Cape Canaveral.

 Software in the Orbit

With the STS-77 Heimann’s software finally made it into space itself. It recorded the results for the whole mission. Not only once: At the same time every byte was logged on the ground, too.

The STS-77 (Space Transportation System) was the name of the mission of the ENDEAVOUR space shuttle. It started on the 19th May 1996. It was the 77th space shuttle mission and the 11th flight of the ENDEAVOUR space shuttle.

Provisional Highlight

The DEEP IMPACT mission was about letting a 372kg impactor crash the Temple 1 comet to explore what is inside it. The projectile, which was about the size of a fridge, carried a CD with it. It had Heimann Engineering written on it and with some luck, it will continue to do so for the next 3 billion years.

Heimann Engineering, however, does not have to do anything with the movie DEEP IMPACT.