Ecliptic RocketCam(TM) to Provide Live, Color Video From an Unmanned Spacecraft
In what is expected to be a
growing trend in the space business, a RocketCam(TM) Imaging System will
provide live, color video from an unmanned spacecraft as part of the
NASA-funded technology-demonstration mission planned for 2004. During the
brief yet pioneering DART mission, two unmanned spacecraft will rendezvous in
low Earth orbit with little if any human guidance, proving out a new
space-operations capability needed for several types of future missions.
The imaging system to be used on DART will be similar to the RocketCam
system demonstrated on October 7th for NASA’s Space Shuttle fleet, when the
first-ever onboard live video of a shuttle launch was delivered to a worldwide
audience as the orbiter Atlantis lifted off and climbed to orbit for a
rendezvous with the International Space Station.
The contract between RocketCam’s exclusive supplier Ecliptic Enterprises
Corporation and DART prime contractor Orbital Sciences Corporation
started this week. This is Ecliptic’s first order for a RocketCam system
designed to be used on a spacecraft. Orbital’s customer for the DART project
is NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, AL.
Each Ecliptic RocketCam generates live, full-color video from onboard its
host platform, which is then transmitted to receiving equipment on the ground
for subsequent distribution to launch control centers, technical and
management audiences, media outlets and the public.
The Demonstration of Autonomous Rendezvous Technology (DART) project is
part of NASA’s Space Launch Initiative (SLI) to research and develop
technologies that will make space travel safer and more affordable. While
NASA has performed rendezvous and docking missions in the past, astronauts
have always piloted the spacecraft. The technologies to be demonstrated by
DART represent a critical step for establishing an autonomous rendezvous
capability for the United States and will lay the groundwork for reusable
manned and unmanned launch system operations. Future applications of this
technology include cargo delivery and space-taxi operations for the
International Space Station (ISS) and other on-orbit activities such as
satellite retrieval and servicing missions.
During mission operations in low Earth orbit, the RocketCam system will
capture and transmit live, color video from the DART spacecraft to mission
controllers on the ground, who will use the video stream to verify
accomplishment of several mission objectives.
The DART spacecraft will be launched in 2004 aboard an Orbital Pegasus®
winged rocket and inserted into a circular parking orbit, and then will
perform a series of orbit transfers to arrive at a point near a target
satellite using state-of-the-art GPS-relative navigation techniques. Using
the vehicle’s main instrument, the Advanced Video Guidance Sensor (AVGS), DART
will then approach the target satellite to within a distance of 5 meters and
perform various station-keeping maneuvers. Finally, DART will demonstrate a
collision avoidance maneuver, then depart the vicinity and transition to its
final orbit. The entire sequence will be accomplished under autonomous
control within a few days after launch, and most key events will be covered
and verified by the RocketCam video.
RocketCam Imaging Systems, which have been 100% successful on a total of
21 rocket launches to date, are employed regularly by The Boeing Company on
its Delta II and Delta III rockets and by Lockheed Martin Astronautics on its
Atlas 2, Atlas 3, Atlas 5 and Titan IV rockets. The next scheduled use of
RocketCam will be on the early November inaugural launch of Boeing’s large
Delta IV rocket, which will orbit a communications satellite for Paris-based
Eutelsat.
“The nearly flawless operational history of Ecliptic’s RocketCam products
in the launch systems arena was an important factor in our selection of
Ecliptic for this spacecraft application,” said Tim Rumford, DART Program
Manager at Orbital. “We’re also pleased with the relative simplicity of the
RocketCam interfaces, Ecliptic’s responsiveness and relatively rapid delivery
schedule.”
Said Ecliptic’s CEO Rex Ridenoure: “This represents the accomplishment of
a key milestone in Ecliptic’s business strategy to expand applications of our
RocketCam product line. We expect this to be one of many spacecraft projects
in coming years to endorse the concept of employing RocketCams for viewing
critical mission functions and sequences.”
About Ecliptic Enterprises Corporation: Ecliptic provides data-transport
systems and onboard imaging systems for use with rockets, spacecraft and other
remote platforms operating in extreme environments. Its technical staff has a
broad range of direct experience on over eighty space missions, including
several recent deep-space missions and numerous low-cost missions involving
small satellites. The privately held firm’s core competencies include space
systems engineering, space telecommunications, aerospace avionics and
instrument systems. Its popular RocketCam(TM) product line is used on a
variety of host platforms in markets involving space systems, airborne
systems, ocean systems and test support systems. See more at
www.eclipticenterprises.com .
About Orbital Sciences Corporation: Orbital is one of the world’s leading
developers and manufacturers of affordable space systems for commercial, civil
government and military customers. The company’s primary products include
low-orbit, geosynchronous and planetary spacecraft for communications,
scientific and remote sensing missions; ground- and air-launched rockets that
deliver satellites into orbit; and missile defense boosters that are used as
target and interceptor vehicles. Orbital also offers space-related technical
services to government agencies and develops and builds satellite-based
transportation management systems for public transit and public works
agencies, as well as private vehicle fleet operators. See more at
http://www.orbital.com .
For more about DART, go to
http://www.orbital.com/LaunchVehicles/DART/DART.html .
RocketCam(TM) is a trademark of Ecliptic Enterprises Corporation.
Pegasus® is a registered trademark of Orbital Sciences Corporation.
Note to editors: Find RocketCam(TM) background, images and video clips
at: www.eclipticenterprises.com/products_rocketcam.shtml. Find DART project
background and photos at
http://www.orbital.com/LaunchVehicles/DART/DART.html .
Marketing Contact:
Jim Cantrell
Business Development
Ecliptic Enterprises Corporation
Ph: (435)757-9940
jcantrell@eclipticenterprises.com
Media Contact:
Lyla Foggia
Foggia+Associates
(661)259-6561
lfoggia@sbcglobal.net
