Jacobs Partners With NASA to Develop, Deploy Wireless Portable HD Camera System; Steve Arnette Quoted

Jacobs announced that the company has, through a partnership with NASA, successfully deployed a wireless high-definition camera system to use it for the first time while orbiting the International Space Station back in August, Jacobs reported on Tuesday.

“Our Jacobs video engineering team at the Johnson Space Center has successfully led this effort to design and build a practical and affordable camera system for use on the International Space Station,” said Steve Arnette, senior vice president of aerospace, technology and nuclear at Jacobs. “The system may prove to become a standard for camera systems that can be used to support NASA’s Artemis moon mission for landers, habitats and roving vehicles.”

The company’s wireless camera system allows NASA astronauts to capture video of target locations and can be repositioned easily to help the crewmembers see and identify potential issues outside the station. It is the first of its kind for ISS, is capable of live streaming 720p HD video and is compatible with existing Wi-Fi systems on the station, allowing signals to be sent back to Mission Control in Houston in real time.

Jacobs developed the portable system using commercially available components that are both rugged and low-cost. The HD camera system is designed to withstand the extreme space environment outside the ISS by working inside an enclosed housing that protects the camera’s sensor from becoming too hot or too cold in the thermal environment. In addition, the camera also uses a rechargeable battery that can operate for up to ten hours to support long-duration space walks.

Following further testing and development, the Portable Wireless Camera system may potentially be used in remote position locations for status and safety management during future space walks on the moon. As NASA’s largest services provider, Jacobs currently helps the agency capture remotely-sensed imagery from the ISS, including those directed at aiding in disaster response.

About Jacobs 

Jacobs leads the global professional services sector providing solutions for a more connected, sustainable world. With approximately $12 billion in revenue and a talent force of more than 50,000, Jacobs provides a full spectrum of services including scientific, technical, professional and construction- and program-management for business, industrial, commercial, government and infrastructure sectors.