Space shuttle Atlantis as seen orbiting Earth. Photo: NASA

EMS Technologies, Inc. has announced the successful completion of the first flight of its new CALTRAC Star Tracker system aboard the NASA Space Shuttle Atlantis on mission STS-101. The tracker provided critical navigation functions to the mission crew during an experiment of orbital attitude readiness involving the International Space Station.

The EMS system also will fly on one of NASA's Discovery missions, Genesis, scheduled for launch in January 2001. The two-year mission will involve sending a spacecraft to collect pieces of the Sun, called solar wind samples, to help scientists better understand the make-up of the solar system.

"EMS Technologies is pleased to provide NASA with a high speed, fully autonomous star tracker that can assist NASA's experimental requirements and assure that satellites maintain proper attitude continually while in flight," said Al Hansen, president and COO, EMS Technologies.

The CALTRAC Star Tracker system has a wide field of view so it can quickly provide attitude pointing for satellite or shuttle missions. It also features its own power supply and processor so it doesn't draw on the shuttle's central processing system.

Developed by EMS Space & Technology Optical Products Group in Ottawa, Ontario, the Star Tracker provides the shuttle's position as a reference for other navigational devices, such as the GPS (Global Positioning System) and the INS (Intertial Navigation System).

"The EMS Star Tracker system performed well throughout our STS-101 mission, providing a high data rate, and extremely accurate tracking for long periods of time," said Stewart Bain, director - Optical Products, EMS Space & Technology Group. "The system has demonstrated that it can meet NASA's critical navigational requirements in the rugged environment of space."

EMS Technologies, Inc. is a leading innovator in the design and manufacture of wireless and satellite solutions, and focuses its unique range of advanced technologies on the needs of broadband and mobile information users. The company is headquartered in Atlanta, employs 1,600 people worldwide, and has major manufacturing facilities in Atlanta, Ottawa and Montreal.