News & Press
Green Hills Helps JPL go to Mars
Software Tools Critical to Mars Rover Missions
SANTA BARBARA, CA — August 11, 2003 — Green Hills Software, Inc., today announced that all the flight software aboard the two Mars Exploration Rover missions was written by engineers from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) using software development tools from Green Hills Software. Both the "Opportunity" rover, launched July 7, and the "Spirit" rover, launched June 10, are being directed and controlled by software programs and systems written with the use of Green Hills development tools.
"The two Mars rovers are essentially very sturdy, complex computers," says David Kleidermacher, vice-president of engineering at Green Hills. "And like every computer, they need specific software programs to tell them how to perform all the complex functions of space flight, landing and operation on the surface of Mars. The Green Hills tools are the building blocks for those software programs."
JPL engineers faced a number of unique challenges when building the hardware and software for the two Mars rovers. They utilized the expertise of Green Hills' engineers to help them rebuild the rovers' entire operating system software with one set of software tools. "Our engineers were able to provide JPL with the right products and professional knowledge--two elements that were critical to the success of their Mars missions," said Kleidermacher.
On-the-Fly Software Upgrade
The Mars rover "Spirit" is scheduled to land on the red planet January 3, 2004, with the "Opportunity" rover set for a January 24, 2004 landing. Between now and then, JPL engineers, with the help of Green Hills Software's products, will build a new version of software to be uplinked to the Mars-bound rovers. This updated software will direct the two rovers to their precise landing targets on Mars and enable them to carry out their complex scientific mission once they arrive.
About Green Hills Software
Founded in 1982, Green Hills Software, Inc. is the technology leader for real-time operating systems and software development tools for 32- and 64-bit embedded systems. The royalty-free INTEGRITY RTOS, compilers, MULTI and AdaMULTI Integrated Development Environments and Green Hills Probe product line offer a complete development solution that addresses embedded systems from the lowest cost consumer products to the most safety critical aircraft flight systems. Green Hills Software is headquartered in Santa Barbara, CA with European headquarters in the United Kingdom.
Green Hills Software, the Green Hills logo, MULTI and INTEGRITY are registered trademarks. AdaMULTI is a trademark of Green Hills Software, Inc. All other trademarks (registered or otherwise) are the property of their respective companies. Brand or product names are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective holders.
North American Sales Contact: Green Hills Software, Inc., 30 West Sola Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, Tel: 805-965-6044, Fax: 805-965-6343, Website: www.ghs.com, Email: sales@ghs.com.
International Sales Contact: Green Hills Software Ltd., Dolphin House, St. Peter Street, Winchester Hampshire SO23 8BW, United Kingdom, Tel: +44 (0)1962 829820, Fax: +44 (0)1962 890300, Email: mktg-europe@ghs.com.
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