ENGINEERING

BAE Systems' radiation-hardened RAD6000 computers were launched last week as part of NASA's Swift Mission from Kennedy Space Center, Fla. Swift, a multi-wavelength observatory, will study brief but powerful gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) that occur approximately once a day above the earth's atmosphere. Scientists hope to discover the GRB's origin and nature. Scientists will also use the GRBs to study the earth's atmosphere and environment. BAE Systems Information & Electronic Warfare Systems in Manassas, Va., provides the four RAD6000 high-performance 32-bit Reduced Instruction Set Computers (RISC) that will process data and guide Swift in the heavily radiated space environment. The RAD6000 is based on the IBM PowerPC architecture. "This mission will increase our understanding of the universe and we're delighted BAE Systems plays a role," said Vic Scuderi, space products manager for BAE Systems at Manassas. "The RAD6000's performance will be critical to an important maneuvering element of the mission. Once a burst has occurred the RAD6000 computers will process incoming data; Swift will then turn quickly toward the blast to capture a snapshot of the cosmic event. This maneuver is managed by the RAD6000." Scuderi added. BAE Systems has a 20-year history of providing radiation-hardened solutions for U.S. space programs. Most recently, the RAD6000 computers were installed on each of the still-broadcasting Mars Rovers -- the only control and data computers aboard the two Rovers -- to execute flight, landing and exploration operations on Mars. The RAD6000 was also the single control and data computer used on the successful Pathfinder mission that landed on Mars in 1997. BAE Systems is an international company engaged in the development, delivery and support of advanced defense and aerospace systems in the air, on land, at sea and in space. BAE Systems' Information & Electronic Systems Integration Sector (IESI) is a leader in situational awareness, electronic attack and defensive systems solutions for the U.S. battle space market.