Live From Mars was active July 1996-December 1997.
My Involvement With Mars
About three to four years ago while working on an instrument package going
to Saturn's moon Titan, I was asked to join the Mars Pathfinder team
because of my previous experience with imaging electronics. This was to
be a fast-paced design proving NASA's quicker, simpler and cheaper
philosophy for the next generation of small spacecraft systems.
The Imager For Mars Pathfinder (IMP) design, as quoted from the Mars
Pathfinder
forum at http://mpfwww.jpl.nasa.gov/mpf/sci_desc.html#IMP "...is a stereo
imaging system with color capability provided by a set of selectable
filters for each of the two camera channels." Please refer to the Web
page above for
a more detailed description of the science packages. Note that there are
two
main parts of the Pathfinder: the instruments or payload such as the IMP
and
rover Sojourner, and the spacecraft that delivers the payload to Mars.
The
design, launch and control of a spacecraft is very different from the
development of an instrument package. The IMP system is basically along
for
the ride and hopefully after a successful journey and landing on Mars, it
will start sending back pictures.
Our design interfaces included a Charge Coupled Device (CCD) and an IBM
computer system used to control the taking of pictures (images). A CCD
converts light (photons) to an electrical signal, which after processing,
forms a picture. Basically, we built the electronic modules in-between.
After studying the CCD and IBM interfaces we started the design in
earnest.
To save space and cost it was decided to use Very Large Scale
Integration (VLSI) circuits such as a Memory Multi-Chip Module (MCM) and a
field-programmable Gate Array (FPGA). The Memory MCM could hold multiple
pictures allowing the IBM computer to read out the images at its leisure
while performing other critical tasks. The Gate Array was engineered to
contain many smaller control circuits inside which saved space, weight and
costs.
After designing the system we built a prototype or working model and
started
integration testing. It is necessary to test new hardware and software
together to work out all the bugs (things that don't quite work right).
The
IMP interface software was developed by University of Arizona engineers.
The software controlled the sequence necessary for imaging and the
movement of the camera motors and filters.
We had a lot of fun designing and testing the camera system. It was really
interesting taking pictures in the lab for the first time knowing that in
the
near future it will be on Mars returning snapshots of that alien terrain.
Now my involvement with Mars is just like yours - I am anxiously awaiting
the
July 4th (or 5th) landing of the Pathfinder this year and the first
pictures
sent back. Just before the Pathfinder arrives at Mars I will become more
nervous (as nearly everyone involved will, especially those at NASA and
the Jet Propulsion Laboratory) because our time is at hand.
As a side note to planetary exploration, l have a story about a good
friend
named Larry Padgett. Larry has worked on an instrument package going to
Saturn's moon Titan for the past six years. The launch date of this
vehicle is set for later this year (see DISR section below). The
spacecraft will take about eight
years to get to Saturn before it can start sending information back to
Earth. By that time Larry will have spent 15 years of his life waiting to
see if his designs worked! This is what planetary science is all about!
My Career Journey
I've had several previous engineering jobs at Lockheed Martin.
Zenith Star: Part of the so-called "Star Wars" effort to design a very
large space-based laser system with accuracy abilities equivalent to
lighting up a
basketball on the top of the Empire State Building from Denver, Colorado!
The final laser would have been as large as a Greyhound bus and in space
it
would have been visible as a small speck on a clear night to the unaided
eye.
My job entailed integrating many Reduced Instruction Set (RISC)
processors and development of the math library.
Flight Telerobotic Servicer: The robotic arm that was planned to
help build the Space Station and relieve the astronauts of many dangerous
tasks.
It was very interesting to learn the control algorithms necessary to move
an object in three-dimensional space. My job was to integrate the hardware
and software systems.
Brilliant Pebbles: Another "Star Wars" idea that relied on many small
"pebbles" (file-cabinet-sized satellites) to release a kinetic kill
vehicle toward a hostile missile target. The kill vehicle would destroy
missiles by
impacting them, equivalent to firing a bullet to hit another bullet. My
job was to design the first prototype of the controller system between the
booster and the kill vehicle.
Descent Imager/Spectral Radiometer (DISR): An instrument package for the
Cassini mission heading toward Saturn. The DISR is part of the Huygens
Probe, which will descend into the atmosphere of Saturn's moon Titan and
make
imaging and spectral observations. My job was to design and develop both
the CCD and infrared imaging simulators and the payload interfaces.
Cassini is scheduled to launch later this year.
Imager For Mars Pathfinder: As described at the beginning of this page.
Multi-Service Launch System (MSLS): To quote Lockheed Martin, "The
Multi-Service Launch Systems Program provides an effective and efficient
launch service for a variety of different payloads, at great savings to
the
American taxpayer." Basically, it converts Minuteman II missiles from a
wartime mission to a peacetime one instead of destroying them. My job was
to
design the software to control the missile's booster, nozzles and payload
interface. MSLS had its first launch last year, which was very
successful.
Data Link Formatter: A very high-speed state-of-the-art data handler
system. Taking in up to 4.8 Gbps (billion bits per second), it can queue
(keep track of), format, control and route data to an output system as
needed.
Attached to this is a 500 Gbit memory system (imagine having 4000 times
more
memory for your home computer!). My job was to architect the system and
support the program in an advisory position.
My Current Job
I'm now working on the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle. This is a study
program to develop a new
family of cost-effective, highly responsive launch vehicles. We are
involved
in a competitive run-off for America's next generation of space launchers.
The challenge for this program is to rapid-prototype and demonstrate
system
designs along with keeping costs to a minimum without sacrificing safety
or
system capability. My job is to lead the power controller hardware and
software design.
For further information about Lockheed Martin products and services please
refer to http://www.lmco.com/closer.html or for contact information such
as employment opportunities go to http://www.lmco.com/contact/
For further information about Lockheed Martin Astronautics, Denver, CO
go to http://harpo.ast.lmco.com/
How I Became an Engineer
In high school I wanted to be a veterinarian and even worked occasionally
at an animal hospital next door to our house. However, by the time college
arrived I didn't know what to do. Because of a low draft number (less
than 100) on
my 18th birthday in 1969, and the escalation in Vietnam, I joined the Air
Force (my father had been in the Air Force during World War II). After a
tour in Vietnam in the early 70s (working in a field hospital which was
just like the TV show "M*A*S*H"), I wisely transferred to the Electronic
Computer Repair field. The
military provided excellent technical schooling both in electronics and
computers and gave comprehensive on-the-job training. After spending some
very productive and entertaining years in the Air Force, I joined
Westinghouse
(Baltimore) to finish my Electrical Engineering degree at University of
Maryland (College Park).
Over 11 years ago my family and I decided that Denver, Colorado was a
great
place to live. At that time Lockheed Martin (formally Martin Marietta)
was
hiring a lot of engineers and it didn't take long for me to get an offer
and
then accept it. Since then I have stayed put and finished a Masters in
Engineering from University of Colorado (Boulder).
It was pure chance that I became an engineer. After Vietnam I really
wanted out of the medical field and one of the few openings in the Air
Force at that time was for Electronic Computer Repair. While attending
electronics classes
in my new field I discovered that I had an aptitude for it and thus my
career
started. Before the Air Force classes the only electrical thing I knew
was how to screw in a light bulb!
Family Items
I am married to Van (pronounced Young) and we have a teenage daughter
named
Kim. Kim would really be mad if I didn't mention her name a few times in
my bio - so Kim, Kim, Kim, Kim, and Kim!
Kim, 16 years old, currently attends Heritage High School in Littleton,
Colorado. She enjoys playing competitive softball in the summer (her
second
year at it) and for the school as well. We enjoy watching Kim play and
during the summer our vacation is going to softball tournaments.
We have a pet cockatiel named Christina who is very smart and can be quite
a troublemaker.
Mars Pathfinder, Camera Control Electronics Designer
Lockheed Martin, Colorado