Neptec's Technology Boards Atlantis for 25th NASA Mission
Ottowa, Canada (PRWEB) June 6, 2007 -- Neptec Design Group, a leader in intelligent 3D vision systems for military, manufacturing and aerospace applications, announced today the STS-117 Atlantis mission marks the 20th flight for its Space Vision System (SVS). Designed to help construct the International Space Station (ISS), the SVS provides astronauts with position and attitude cues during assembly. The mission, scheduled for launch on Friday, June 8th at 7:38 p.m. EDT, also marks the fifth flight for the company's Laser Camera System (LCS) which is used to perform focused inspections of any potential damage sites in order to determine if critical damage has occurred to the shuttle's exterior and to help NASA ensure the shuttle is safe for re-entry to earth.
The Space Shuttle Atlantis is set to deliver the second and third starboard truss segment (S3/S4) to the ISS. The segment weighs 17.5 tons and will be installed to the starboard side of the ISS using the SVS and the Canadarm2. The SVS is a docking and assembly system that uses cameras and a system of black and white dots, known as target arrays, to maneuver and attach a segment the size of a city bus to the space station. Once the 45-foot segment is attached to the ISS, the crew will unfold the photo-voltaic solar arrays which will provide the station with additional power.
"This flight marks Neptec's 25th mission with NASA over a period of more than 15 years," said Larisa Beach, VP of Space Robotic Sensors at Neptec. "The SVS is a great example of Canada's contribution in the building of the International Space Station and a demonstration of how international partners can come together to realize a singular vision."
Since the Return to Flight STS-114 mission in 2005, the LCS has been used by NASA to scan the exterior of the shuttle for damage to the thermal tiles that may occur during takeoff. With the ability to detect tiny cracks from up to four meters away, the LCS can scan the exterior of the shuttle prior to re-entering the earth's atmosphere. Should a critical area be detected, the LCS will be used to create a 3D model allowing NASA to determine if the area needs to be repaired in orbit.
"We are proud to continue to be part of the Space Shuttle team. Twenty-five missions is an impressive milestone, we would not have reached it without the help and support of our many partners including the Canadian Space Agency," said Iain Christie, President of Neptec. "Our success as a prime contractor to NASA is the basis on which we are growing and diversifying the company. The technology that we developed and deployed on the Space Shuttle has spun off applications in space as well as sectors such as military sensors and industrial robotics. Helping to keep the shuttle flying safely remains the core of our business and a continuing source of great pride to everyone at Neptec."
About Neptec
Specializing in intelligent machine vision systems, Neptec maintains a reputation of quality and reliability in the design, manufacturing, installation and support of its products with the Space Shuttle, International Space Station, and other major space programs. With new solutions for the aerospace and defense industries, Neptec, a NASA prime contractor, continues to be a pioneer in the innovative use of intelligent 3D machine vision systems for mission critical applications. For more information please visit www.neptec.com.
For more information please contact:
Cerys Goodall
High Road Communications
613-688-1184
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