Chandrayaan-1 To Search For Ice On Moon

Sensing technology developed by Raytheon will help to determine whether the polar regions of the moon contain ice.

The company's Forerunner miniaturized-radio frequency system was delivered by Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory to the Indian Space Research Organization in March 2008, integrated onto the nation's Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft, and launched into orbit October 22 from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, India.

Under contract to the US Navy, Raytheon provided the antenna, transmitter, analog receiver and software for the Forerunner mini-RF system. The company also supplied system engineering and integration and test support.

Raytheon provided similar modules and support under the same contract for NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter program. The LRO spacecraft is currently undergoing environmental testing and is scheduled for launch in March 2009.

"The responsive space concept holds great promise for many kinds of future missions, and Raytheon is proud to extend its leading role in that future with the mini-RF payloads," said Brian Arnold, vice president for Space Systems. "We're excited to be applying the lessons from our experience in operationally responsive space to these important lunar exploration projects."

Raytheon's work on the Forerunner program takes advantage of the company's prior experience in support of the Department of Defense's operationally responsive space initiative, which calls for smaller, less expensive satellites that can provide scientific or tactical information on an as-needed basis. Because of its low development cost and miniaturization, the mini-RF technology provides a wealth of sensing capabilities in a relatively inexpensive and easily adapted platform.

FMI: www.raytheon.com, www.chandrayaan-i.com/index.html