National Space Symposium Show News - April 7-10, 2008 - (Page 15)

TECHNOLOGY SPIN-OFFS Spain’s GMV Sees Growing Success in U.S. Market Traditionally the U.S. space industry has relied on its own technology, but Spanish-based GMV is here (Booth 728) making inroads with its flight dynamics and satellite ground control software. “We did the turnkey development of the flight dynamics software for the Jules Verne ATV, the most complex and complicated flight dynamic system ever developed in Europe,” says GMV’s vp for North America, Theresa Beech. “Now Theresa Beech. we have established a foothold on the commercial side in the U.S., and we’ve gotten a toe hold into various NASA missions. We’re growing a lot of our business right now in the U.S. through [non-classified] U.S. government contracts. That’s our big push. That and the commercial GEO satellite business.” GMV’s latest success is final acceptance on NASA-JPL’s LEOStar Orbiting Carbon Observatory mission, where it is providing its focusLEO flight dynamics system. The focusSuite family of flight dynamics has now been selected to fly more than 120 satellites around the world, Beech said. GMV’s software is both customizable and flexible, she says. Traditionally, software would be developed for each specific mission and could be difficult and costly to change if the satellite had to be redirected in any way. The flexibility of the software also suits it to managing constellations, where satellites must fly in precise formation, Beech notes. GMV is providing the flight dynamics software for Globalstar’s 48-satellite constellation, she says. Virtual Earth Through the Firewall The Virtual Earth Web-based mapping system by Vexcel will now be available to companies and organizations whose security firewalls previously prevented access. The new Virtual Earth Appliance “has long been awaited by government and private organizations that want the powerful capabilities of Virtual Earth but have sensitive data or requirements to operate on their own secure networks. The Virtual Earth Appliance gives them the best of both worlds,” says Vexcel president Gary Salisbury. Vexcel, acquired by Microsoft in 2006, is here at Booth 835. Braxton for Faster Satellite Deployment Braxton T echnologies (Booth 204) believes it set a new record in January of just three days to take a satellite from launch to full operational deployment. Its new GPS Launch/Early Orbit, Anomaly Resolution, Disposal, and Operations (LADO) System, based on its ACE Premier, “is proof that commercial software can be deployed effectively in a mission-critical system, saving the government both cost and schedule,” says CEO Frank Backes. The software was used by the Air Force Space Command 2nd Space Operations Squadron to bring Global Positioning Satellite IIR-18 (SVN 57) on line. EcoQuest Kills Germs Another application of space-based technology is being showcased here by EcoQuest International: a toaster-sized ecobox that kills the Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) germs that have been causing outbreaks in many school districts. It also reduces other bacteria, viruses, yeasts, molds and fungi on surfaces by up to 99%. The device features ActivePure, developed from NASA research, “to safely inactivate germs in the environment 24 hours a day, without sprays or wipes,” says EcoQuest Founder Mike Jackson. More than five million EcoQuest “Certified Space” indoor environment and water purification systems featuring ActivePure are in use around the world. Booth 704. Space Technology Hall of Fame Two medical and one environmental clean-up products will be inducted into the Space Technology Hall of Fame here on Thursday: • ArterioVision software—a diagnostic tool used in conjunction with a standard ultrasound to precisely measure the thickness of the two inner layers of the carotid artery. Initially developed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory through its innovative partnership program, this technology is derived from the Video Imaging Communication and Retrieval software used to process pictures from spacecraft imagery. • ResQPOD, a non-invasive medical device that improves cardiac output and blood flow to the brain compared to conventional resuscitation techniques. Developed by Kennedy Space Center, the U.S. Army and private industry, the device is used to help astronauts reacquaint with the feeling of gravity by quickly increasing the circulation of blood to the brain. • Petroleum Remediation Product removes petroleum-based pollutants from water. It uses microcapsules, tiny balls of beeswax with hollow centers, which absorb and bind with petroleum or other hydrocarbon products. The microspheres then serve as nutrients to assist naturally occurring microbes in soil or water to biodegrade contaminates. RPR grew out of research by NASA into biological encapsulation. April 2008 15 www.aviationweek.com/shownews http://www.aviationweek.com/shownews

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Arthur Clarke, 1917-2008 Critical Questions Loom Beyond the Rocket Motor New GPS for the USAF Generals Have Their Say 2,500 Years in Space Virgin Senses Sea-Change Technology Spin-Offs

National Space Symposium Show News - April 7-10, 2008

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