SEA destined for space orbit

Citation

(1999), "SEA destined for space orbit", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 71 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.1999.12771eab.034

SEA destined for space orbit

SEA destined for space orbit

Keywords: SEA, Software, Space travel

Systems Engineering & Assessment Ltd (also known as SEA) has invested private venture funding to develop a capability in designing and implementing space-qualified real-time software.

It is working with DERA Space Department, Farnborough to develop the software architecture for the SMX-2 payload processor for onboard experimental software to fly on the Space Technology Research Vehicle STRV-1d.

STRV-1d is one of a second pair of technology demonstrator micro-satellites to be flown by the Defence Evaluation & Research Agency (DERA) in geostationary transfer orbit. The STRV satellites are due to fly as a piggyback payload on an Ariane 5 rocket to be launched from Kourou in French Guyana in early 2000.

The SMX-2 experimental payload processor is based on the ERC-32 space qualified European 32-bit processor supplied by ESA, and packaged by MMS UK.

SEA staff worked with DERA in defining the XMS management software responsible for interfacing to the onboard processor; the SMX-2 real-time operating system (Vx.Works); and the experimental software to be tested on the payload processor.

SEA software engineer Bob Wame is currently putting the finishing touches to the XMS software in preparation for spacecraft integration and test.

Phill James, SEA's business development manager - Aerospace Systems, commenting on the venture, said: "This is a major step in the development of our expertise in designing and implementing such software."