The INSIDE TRACK

Aitech’s Computing Technologies

Provide Critical Communication Infrastructure and Human-Machine Interface Processing Capabilities on Uncrewed Artemis I Test Flight To The Moon and Back

SAitech provided a media converter for NASA’s Orion spacecraft for data connectivity and a single board computer for Callisto, a vehicle-connected crew interface technology demonstration onboard Orion during NASA’s Artemis I mission. Callisto was developed by Lockheed Martin in partnership with Amazon with its Alexa digital voice assistant and Cisco with its Webex video conferencing technology.

Pratish Shah, General Manager of Aitech USA, noted, “As part of this first step for humankind’s return to, and the start of a permanent presence on, the Moon, Aitech is proud of our role in this historic Artemis I mission. The growing number of compute-intensive mission-critical applications pushing the envelope of data processing at the edge in space need reliable, radiation

General Dynamics Mission Systems and Abaco Collaborate to Answer Embedded Cybersecurity Battlefield Challenges

General Dynamics Mission Systems and AMETEK Abaco Systems are partnering to deliver several new products featuring advanced encryption and anti-tamper-enabled capabilities to address the need for rugged, embedded, secure processing and storage solutions at the board level.

The partnership combines General Dynamics’ programmable, embeddable security for communications, networking, and related equipment requiring high-grade cryptographic processing up to Top Secret with Abaco’s innovative rugged embedded computing, networking, and processing technology. “Together, we are leveraging the complementary skills, knowledge, and experience of each company to enhance existing products,” said Scott Dunder- dale, General Dynamics Mission Systems vice president, and general manager for Land and Air Systems. “The partnership will also help us develop new products and pursue business opportunities of mutual interest that will improve our rugged embedded systems capabilities.”

The partnership allows the companies to rapidly bring highly secure, open architecture and differentiated products to the market to address the defense industry’s most challenging embedded electronics requirements. Working together will allow the companies to build cybersecurity into the products from the start rather than a less effective bolt-on at the end.

Mike Underwood, division vice president, and business unit manager at Abaco, adds, “This unique partnership enables Abaco and General Dynamics to provide quickly advanced embedded cryptographic solutions for communications, networking, electronic warfare, and other mission operations worldwide. Working together, we will provide innovative answers to tolerant, and proven technologies, like what we develop at Aitech.”

For the Lockheed Martin-built Orion spacecraft, the vehicle flown during the recent Artemis I mission to the Moon and back, Aitech developed a media converter that provided information connectivity as the main conduit data interface between Orion and the Electrical Ground Service Equipment (EGSE). Orion will enable humans to explore deeper regions of space and remain in space for extended periods.

Aitech also provided the C878 3U VPX Intel Xeon D-based Single Board Computer (SBC) for Callisto, a payload to test and demonstrate how commercial technology could support future crewed missions in space. Aitech’s C878 provided the computational core of Callisto’s Alexa and intercom capabilities.

The Artemis I mission launched on November 16 and splashed down back on Earth on December 11. Callisto was installed in the Orion cabin, and during the 25.5-day mission, virtual crewmembers extensively tested the payload from NASA’s Johnson Space Center. The testing demonstrated how the Alexa digital voice assistant and Webex video conferencing technology could be used to assist future astronauts on deep space missions.