Raytheon Company, in partnership with Hamilton Sundstrand, successfully demonstrated the capabilities of its MicroLight(TM) networked, communications and navigation system at NASA’s recent desert research and technical studies annual demonstration.
Raytheon’s MicroLight radio provides voice, data and situational awareness information to all users on its network. One feature of the system enables each user on the network to know the location of other users at all times. As NASA sends its next generation of astronauts to the moon, along with their robot helpers, that capability will be vital.
Raytheon has a long history of supporting the military with the use of its battle-proven MicroLight and the radio’s Enhanced Position Location Reporting System capabilities. Now, it hopes to transition that technology to space as NASA readies for future missions to the moon, Mars and beyond. Raytheon’s partnership with NASA dates back to the Apollo missions when Raytheon provided solutions for the Saturn launch vehicle, lunar modules, and space suits.
“Leveraging our Department of Defense technologies to meet the mission of NASA is a natural extension of our integrated solutions,” said Jerry Powlen, vice president, Raytheon Network Centric Systems’ Integrated Communications Systems. “One of the clear benefits to NASA is minimal investment in new technology because these systems are proven and readily applied to space.”
Raytheon Company, with 2005 sales of $21.9 billion, is an industry leader in defense and government electronics, space, information technology, technical services, and business and special mission aircraft. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 80,000 people worldwide.
