Harris Corporation Selected for Potential $58 Million Contract for New NASA Space Suit Communications System
June 19 2008 - 8:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
Software-defined Radios Are Key Component of Constellation Program
Extravehicular Activity MELBOURNE, Fla., June 19
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Harris Corporation (NYSE:HRS), an
international communications and information technology company,
has been selected for a potential seven-year, $58 million contract
to provide the RF communications/navigation system for the
next-generation space suit supporting NASA's Constellation program.
Harris is a member of the Oceaneering International, Inc. team. The
primary goals of NASA's Constellation Program are to maintain an
American presence in low Earth orbit, to return to the moon for
purposes of establishing an outpost, and to lay a foundation to
explore Mars and beyond in the first half of the 21st century.
Under the new Constellation Space Suit System (CSSS) contract,
Harris will supply a radiation-hardened, software-defined radio
(SDR); a voice-only contingency radio; and low profile antennas.
The SDR provides the flexibility and adaptability required to
accommodate evolving voice and data networking requirements of
future lunar missions with the goal of future-proofing the space
suit's communications system. The new modular space-suit system
will include two configurations for individual crewmembers during
Orion missions: one for low Earth orbit, and a second for lunar
surface extravehicular activity. It is the first new U.S. space
suit to be developed since those designed for the Space Shuttle
program. NASA awarded the contract to the Oceaneering International
team last week to design, build, test, certify, produce, process,
and integrate the new space suit system. "This award represents a
strategic win for Harris in a market that we have targeted for
growth. Harris technology will help NASA realize its vision for the
next generation of space exploration," said Frank Van Rensselaer,
vice president and senior executive account manager for NASA
Programs at Harris Government Communications Systems. "We are very
pleased to be working with Oceaneering International on this
important initiative that helps to ensure the comfort and safety of
our nation's astronauts, while providing them the most advanced
communications technology available." Harris has supported major
NASA programs since the 1960s, including the Space Shuttle and the
International Space Station. As NASA began Project Constellation,
which includes a new generation of spacecraft and other space
platforms, Harris launched a strategic growth initiative to pursue
new opportunities with NASA. Harris is very pleased to join the
contractor team that will support future missions to the Moon and
beyond. About Harris Corporation Harris is an international
communications and information technology company serving
government and commercial markets in more than 150 countries.
Headquartered in Melbourne, Florida, the company has annual revenue
of more than $5 billion and 16,000 employees -- including nearly
7,000 engineers and scientists. Harris is dedicated to developing
best-in-class assured communications(R) products, systems, and
services. Additional information about Harris Corporation is
available at http://www.harris.com/. DATASOURCE: Harris Corporation
CONTACT: Sleighton Meyer, Harris Government Communications Systems,
+1-321-727-6514, , Jim Burke, Harris Corporation, +1-321-727-9131,
, or Marc Raimondi, Harris Corporation - Washington, D.C.,
+1-202-729-1738, Web site: http://www.harris.com/
Copyright
Harris (NYSE:HRS)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jun 2024 to Jul 2024
Harris (NYSE:HRS)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jul 2023 to Jul 2024