Systems Engineering & Assessment (SEA) announced the receipt of five contracts at the show, including three from the European Space Agency (ESA), for microsatellite, software technology and components for the radar altimeter instrument of the Cryosat Earth observation satellite. The company is displaying the on-board computer it is developing for the UK's Beagle 2 Mars lander to be launched in 2003.The on-board computer will control the lander's experiments and, during its descent through the Martian atmosphere, will control the release of parachutes and airbags that will cushion the impact of Beagle 2's landing. The computer will then control the operation of the robotic arm, cameras and solar panels and establish communications with ESA's Mars Express orbiter, which will relay the Beagle's science data to the Earth.
Source: Flight Daily News
