ORBIT’s Advanced Tracking and Telemetry Systems Successfully Used by SpaceX in NASA’s Test Launch
ORBIT Communication Systems, Inc. – a satellite communications, tracking antennas, and airborne communications-management systems provider – announced the successful implementation of two of its advanced tracking and telemetry systems as part of SpaceX’s participation in NASA’s Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) Program. ORBIT’s systems, the 1.8-Meter (6-foot) AL-4016 Ship-Stabilized Telemetry Tracking – and the AL-4000 Tracking Antenna Control Unit, were used by SpaceX during its launch of a Falcon-9 launch vehicle with a DRAGON spacecraft. During the test, ORBIT’s systems tracked and received telemetry information from the DRAGON Spacecraft – a free-flying, reusable craft developed by SpaceX – that was launched on December 8, 2010 from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
This is the second time that ORBIT’s solutions have been selected by SpaceX. The first was a successful test that took place in June, 2010. ORBIT was chosen by SpaceX based on ORBIT’s ability to deliver its system within a very short time, to design specially customized software that answered the precise needs of the test, and to provide 24/7 support. According to Israel Adan, CEO of ORBIT CS, Inc. (USA), “We are very pleased that SpaceX has selected ORBIT as its partner for this important NASA program. Our technology provides the optimal answer for tracking antennas and reception of real time telemetry data from in-flight systems, successfully meeting the challenges of severe weather and operational conditions.”
ORBIT’s AL-4016 is a new generation, lightweight, high-dynamic Digital Tracking Pedestal and is operated by the innovative AL-4000 ACU tracking controller. The AL-4000 facilitates the operation of tracking antennas and pedestals and features a dual-CPU for real-time response for mission-critical data acquisition. It includes a customizable graphical touch screen interface, and supports redundant and remote interfaces via a standard SNMP.