L-3 Communications says its Telemetry & Instrumentation (L-3 T&I) division and the division’s Storm Control Systems operation will provide the satellite ground control segment for EarthWatch’s QuickBird high-resolution imaging satellite. The contract is valued at $2 million.
Under the contract, L-3 T&I will provide a complete real- time
system that dramatically minimizes development and operational risk,
including the Narrowband Telemetry and Control System and the
Real-Time Command and Control System. Products in this architecture
include the PC-based NeTstar TT&C system, the Intelligent Mission
Toolkit (IMT), StormView software, and the InControl Toolkit.
“EarthWatch is pleased to build on the excellent business
relationship established with L-3’s Storm team in developing the
ground system for our EarlyBird satellite,” said EarthWatch vice
president Howard Gannes. “In addition, L-3’s track record and
customer commitment in providing best-value real-world satellite
command and control solutions will contribute significantly to the
operational success of QuickBird’s satellite ground system.”
EarthWatch, of Longmont, Colorado, is one of the leading commercial
providers of global imagery and geographical information. QuickBird
represents the company’s latest high-resolution commercial imaging
satellite, which is designed to collect panchromatic and
multi-spectral images over a broad area and which will be launched in
late 1999.
L-3 Communications Telemetry & Instrumentation is headquartered
in San Diego, California, with numerous sales and service offices
worldwide. The company designs and manufactures advanced real-time
commercial-off-the-shelf hardware and software products for flight
test, satellite command and control, avionics test and integration,
and signal conditioning and data capture.
Storm Control Systems offers end-to-end solutions for spacecraft
command and control, payload processing, satellite integration,
network management, and remote equipment control. Storm solutions
are characterized by the ability of a single system to control
constellations comprised of several different types and models.
Customers include the U.S. Air Force, Hughes Space and
Communications, EarthWatch, Inmarsat, Raytheon, several Lockheed
Martin divisions, Space Systems/Loral, TRW, Orbital Sciences, Loral
Orion, and Telespazio.
L-3 Communications is a leading merchant supplier of secure
communications systems and products, avionics and ocean systems,
microwave components and telemetry, instrumentation, space and
wireless products. Its customers include the Department of Defense
(DoD), U.S. government intelligence agencies, aerospace and defense
prime contractors and commercial telecommunications and cellular
customers.
