BAE Systems' radiation-hardened computers helped navigate NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter to successful insertion into orbit around that planet.
The mission was launched from Cape Canaveral, Fla., in August 2005, and the two BAE Systems RAD750 microprocessors on board the spacecraft helped steer it on its 310 million-mile journey to the Red Planet.
The single-board computers will control help collect and transmit information between Mars surface missions and Earth.
NASA's orbiter will examine the atmosphere, surface and subsurface of Mars. Researchers hope to learn more about the history and distribution of water on the planet to improve their understanding of planetary climate change and help answer whether Mars ever supported life. The orbiter will evaluate also potential landing sites for future missions.
BAE Systems has a 20-year history of providing radiation-hardened solutions for U.S. space programs. Its RAD6000 computers are installed on each of the still-broadcasting Mars Exploration Rovers, launched in 2003. The only control and data computers aboard the two Rovers, they continue to help execute that exploration.
The RAD750 represents the next generation of space microprocessors and were vital in NASA's Deep Impact mission. NASA's program managers are investigating future options for the Deep Impact flyby spacecraft, which is on a trajectory to fly past Earth in December 2007.
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About BAE Systems
BAE Systems is the premier trans-Atlantic defense and aerospace company, delivering a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, information technology solutions and customer support services. BAE Systems, with more than 100,000 employees worldwide, had 2005 sales that exceeded GB 15.4 billion (U.S. $28 billion).
For further information, please contact:
Jayne Thomson,
BAE SYSTEMS Middle East
Tel: +44 (0) 1252 384 841
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Email: malcolm@actionprgroup.com
On behalf of:
BAE SYSTEMS,
Farnborough,
Hampshire GU14 6YU,
UK.
Tel: +44 (0) 1252 384605
Fax: +44 (0) 1252 383947
www.baesystems.com
© Press Release 2006
