Neptec to develop cameras for ExoMars Rover

Canadian space exploration engineering firm, Neptec Design Group (NDG), announced that it has signed a contract with Astrium UK Limited for the design and build of navigation cameras for the ExoMars Rover.

The ExoMars Programme has the goals of understanding the Martian environments and establishing whether life had or could now exist on Mars. The Programme comprises two Missions: an orbiter in 2016; and a rover mission in 2018.

For its part of the 2018 rover program, NDG will develop the vision cameras that will serve as the eyes of the rover as it explores the surface of Mars. According to the company, the main challenge will be to design the cameras to withstand the extreme environmental conditions on the Martian surface.

The ExoMars Programme is a European Space Agency Robotic Exploration Mission under the prime contractorship of Thales Alenia Space Italia, with Astrium UK Limited leading the Rover Vehicle developments. Contracts with European organizations represent an increasing portion of Neptec’s Space Exploration business as the company expands beyond its core business with NASA and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).

In addition to the ExoMars mission, the company is currently also working on systems to Explore the origins of the universe on the Japanese Astro H satellite in 2014; guiding the Orbital Cygnus vehicle to the ISS in 2013; and designing rovers for a moon mission tentatively planned for 2018
www.neptec.com
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