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Goodrich Celebrates 50th Year of Working in the Space ProgramJun 18, 2009 (Close-Up Media via COMTEX) -- Goodrich reported it is celebrating its 50th year of working in space programs and the nation's defense. On June 25, 1959, the world's first space-borne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) satellite was launched on the then-classified Corona program with a Goodrich ISR Systems payload. The Corona program mission was to take pictures from space of the former Soviet Bloc countries, and it continued to do so through 1972. Goodrich noted it made the space suit worn by astronaut John Glenn during NASA's Project Mercury missions. The company's sensors were on astronaut Neil Armstrong's backpack as he took the first steps on the moon during Apollo 11. Most recently, Goodrich provided the fine guidance sensor during the Space Shuttle Atlantis' final launch to the Hubble space telescope on May 11. The sensor will add years of productive research life to the venerable space telescope. Tom Bergeron, president, ISR Systems at Goodrich, said, "Our rich history at Goodrich ISR Systems over the past 50 years of providing highly-capable space systems supporting critical missions will continue well into the next generation of technologies and capabilities in support of our mission partners." Goodrich ISR Systems also supports customers and partners on new satellite programs. Current contracts include support to GPS III, the James Webb Space Telescope, SBIRS-High, NPOESS, ORS Sat-1 and Japan's ASNARO satellite. ((Comments on this story may be sent to [email protected])) |