Product category:
Embedded Software and Operating Systems
News Release from: Express Logic | Subject: ThreadX
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 20 March 2007
RTOS manages Martian imaging mission
The ThreadX RTOS is used to manage the cameras collecting images during NASA's ongoing Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter mission.
The ThreadX RTOS has been used by NASA in its ongoing Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) spacecraft The MRO mission is to map the surface of Mars with high-resolution and infrared imaging sensors so scientists can gain a better understanding of the Red Planet, including its past or present ability to support any form of life
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 8 Mar 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
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ThreadX was the RTOS selected to manage the cameras responsible for the unprecedented quality of image currently being collected.
Image collection is all part of the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) developed by Ball Aerospace Technologies Corp, the same design team responsible for NASA's highly successful Deep Impact mission, which also used ThreadX.
HiRISE provides images of the surface of Mars with much finer resolution and a higher level of contrast than ever before.
Further reading
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RTOS gains development support
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Managed by the ThreadX RTOS, HiRISE application software controls the acquisition of images across a 6km swathe of 20,000 pixels at a time while the spacecraft sweeps over the surface of Mars.
While traveling at a speed of 3200m/s, image data are continuously collected using a time delay and integration (TDI) method that matches ground velocity and maintains alignment with the surface of Mars.
HiRISE software adds header information to the data, ensuring that image swaths can be reassembled and sends the data to the image storage system and subsequently back to Earth.
"The characteristics of ThreadX suited the demanding resource-constrained environment we needed", notes Steve Tarr, Head of the HiRISE team at Ball Aerospace.
Express Logic's ThreadX RTOS manages all software aspects of image collection in the HiRISE system.
HiRISE is integrated into an overall system that co-ordinates the spacecraft operation with image collection.
For instance, HiRISE image acquisition is co-ordinated with a separate application that controls spacecraft thrusters.
The thrusters position and orient the spacecraft so that the camera is pointing at the area that is to be photographed.
As well as delivering a very high resolution image of the Mars surface, ThreadX manages application software that controls a CTX imager that takes a wider angle view of the same region and a CRISM multispectral imager that obtains near-infra-red spectral images that helps identify Mars' surface composition.
"Participating in these two highly successful NASA missions is something we're very proud of", commented William E Lamie, President of Express Logic.
"Such missions as Deep Impact and MRO require flawless performance or the entire mission is jeopardised".
"We're proud that ThreadX has met the challenges of both missions, enabling NASA scientists to learn more about the universe we live in". Request a free brochure from Express Logic ...
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