BAE Systems Computer Powers NASA Missions to the Moon and Mars.MANASSAS, Va. -- A BAE Systems BAE SystemsBritish manufacturer of aircraft, missiles, avionics, naval vessels, and other aerospace and defense products. BAE Systems was formed (1999) from the merger of British Aerospace (BAe) with Marconi Electronic Systems. computer is at the core of a strategic NASA NASA: see National Aeronautics and Space Administration. NASA in full National Aeronautics and Space Administration Independent U.S. mission for space exploration. The company's RAD750[R] microprocessor powers NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter This article or section documents a scheduled or expected spaceflight. Details may change as the launch date approaches or more information becomes available. and the Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite as the spacecraft surveys the moon's environment. The missions launched together from Cape Canaveral, Florida This article is about the city of Cape Canaveral, Florida. For the site neighboring the Kennedy Space Center, see Cape Canaveral. Cape Canaveral is a city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. The population was 8,829 at the 2000 census. on June 18. The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter is the first mission in NASA's Vision for Space Exploration initiative, a plan to return to the moon, Mars, and beyond. The orbiter will gather information on the lunar environment to prepare astronauts for long-duration lunar stays. The spacecraft will spend a year in orbit just 31 miles above the moon's surface while its instruments survey the environment and look for safe landing sites and potential resources. "The RAD750 is the most advanced microprocessor offered to the space community," said Vic Scuderi, manager of satellite electronics for BAE Systems in Manassas, Virginia “Manassas” redirects here. For other uses, see Manassas (disambiguation). Manassas is an independent city located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 35,135 at the 2000 census. . "This version incorporates our RAD750 processor and BAE Systems' new SpaceWire high-speed interface. In addition to surviving the rigors of lunar exploration and mapping, SpaceWire offers scientists the ability to format and download massive amounts of data to support the missions." The Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite, or LCROSS LCROSS Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite (NASA) , aims to confirm the presence of water or ice on the moon's south pole -- a discovery crucial to the future of human activities there. LCROSS will do this by excavating the dark floor of one of the moon's polar craters to see if ice lies underneath. BAE Systems has a 20-year history of providing radiation-hardened solutions for international space programs including commercial, Department of Defense, and science missions. Its RAD6000[R] computers are installed on each of the Mars rovers, which have been on the red planet since 2003. The 500th BAE Systems computer recently entered space with the launch of the NASA Kepler mission, which uses the RAD750 processor for satellite control and data processing. Kepler is NASA's first mission to seek habitable habitable adj. referring to a residence that is safe and can be occupied in reasonable comfort. Although standards vary by region, the premises should be closed in against the weather, provide running water, access to decent toilets and bathing facilities, heating, planets in the Milky Way. About BAE Systems BAE Systems is the premier global defense, security and aerospace company delivering a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services support services Psychology Non-health care-related ancillary services–eg, transportation, financial aid, support groups, homemaker services, respite services, and other services . With approximately 105,000 employees worldwide, BAE Systems' sales exceeded 18.5 billion (US $34.4 billion) in 2008. |
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