EL SEGUNDO, Calif., June 11, 2007 /PRNewswire/ -- A hyper-spectral
imaging sensor developed by Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) to demonstrate and
assess military applications from satellites launched on demand has been
delivered to Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. The delivery marks the sensor's
first leg of a journey into space scheduled in December aboard a vehicle
known as TacSat-3.
The ARTEMIS (Advanced Responsive Tactically Effective Military Imaging
Spectrometer) program called for Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems to
design and build the sensor within 15 months as part of a rapid development
experiment funded by a $15 million contract from the Air Force Research
Laboratory. The typical development cycle of such a program would be four
to five years, according to Brian Arnold, vice president for Raytheon's
Space Systems business.
"The intent of the program is to help demonstrate the feasibility of
the 'responsive-space' concept," Arnold said. "Small, relatively
inexpensive satellites would be launched on demand to meet real-time
battlefield needs."
In the responsive space approach, satellites and their cargo, such as
an ARTEMIS payload, would be kept in a holding facility where systems could
be assembled and transported rapidly to a convenient launch site. Employing
commercial-off-the-shelf components and industry standard interfaces,
ARTEMIS serves as a prototype for systems that can support rapid launch
requirements in an easy-to-manufacture, low-cost design.
"Conceivably, a system could be mounted on a satellite, launched, and
in orbit 200 miles above the earth within three to seven days of a request
by a field commander, providing data in a user-friendly format while
greatly reducing critical response times and enhancing battle assessment
capabilities" Arnold said.
Raytheon is working on concept development for a follow-on
hyper-spectral imaging payload with an even wider coverage area for the
Naval Research Laboratory. The ARTEMIS sensor was developed for the
Department of Defense's Tactical Satellite program.
Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems is a leading provider of sensor
systems giving military forces the most accurate and timely actionable
intelligence available for the network-centric battlefield. With 2006
revenues of $4.3 billion and 12,000 employees, SAS is headquartered in El
Segundo, Calif. Additional facilities are in Goleta, Calif.; Forest, Miss.;
Dallas, McKinney and Plano, Texas; and several international locations.
Raytheon Company, with 2006 sales of $20.3 billion, is a technology
leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government
markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 85
years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems
integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and
command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as a
broad range of mission support services. With headquarters in Waltham,
Mass., Raytheon employs 73,000 people worldwide.
Contact:
John Barksdale
310.647.8224
SOURCE Raytheon Company
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Related links:
http://www.raytheon.com
CONTACT:
John Barksdale of Raytheon Company,
+1-310-647-8224
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