General Dynamics has been named prime contractor for SeismicStar, a programme to transmit data directly from seismic-exploration vessels via NASA's Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) network.
SeismicStar is being developed by SpaceData International, which has an agreement with NASA to provide commercial access to the network. The extremely fast data transfer capability of the TRW-built geostationary satellites will allow oil and gas exploration vessels to transmit massive seismic mapping files back to base, rather than record them on tape to be collected later by helicopter.
SeismicStar's "broadband-on-command" service will reduce the exploration industry's turnaround time by allowing same-day transmission of seismic data, says Jay Gnowles, president of McLean, Virginia-based SpaceData. TDRSS can transfer data at up to 311Mb/s, he says, allowing a typical 150Gbyte daily seismic data file to be transmitted in 70min.
SpaceData's first customer is a US company operating 28 seismic-exploration vessels Gnowles says, with service to begin in April. Once a day, a TDRSS satellite will be commanded to track a vessel while seismic data is transferred.
General Dynamics World Telecommunications Systems is prime contractor for SeismicStar, providing the leased shipboard terminals, terrestrial earth stations and fibreoptic links to the exploration company's data processing supercomputers.
Source: Flight International