Harris will deliver a spacecraft audio communications system as a subcontractor of Lockheed Martin for a manned NASA deep-space mission slated for launch by 2022.
The audio and speaker system for the Orion spacecraft will support Exploration Mission-2 operations and will facilitate communications between astronauts and NASA, Harris said Tuesday.
Murali Krishnan, vice president and general manager of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance at Harris’ space and intelligence systems business, said the communications technology will aid astronauts in planned Orion missions such as explorations to Mars and beyond.
The contract allows Harris to expand its business to future crewed space flight operations, Krishnan noted.
The communications technology will feature audio control units with signal processing, audio interface units for mobile push-to-talk capacities and a speaker unit for voice and alarm transmissions throughout the cabin.
NASA designed the Orion spacecraft for long-duration and deep-space manned explorations.