Gensym Corporation has been selected by EarthWatch to provide software for mission simulation of its QuickBird spacecraft. G2 will enable EarthWatch to model and simulate the behavior of the QuickBird spacecraft for training of mission controllers and for efficient planning of mission operations.
"We are excited about our role in EarthWatch¿s satellite operations," said Mark Whitworth, vice president of Gensym¿s Advanced Systems Business Unit. "Gensym¿s software has a long history of success in the satellite industry; however, this is the first use of our software in the emerging market of high-resolution satellite imagery.
"This market commercializes satellite imagery for on-demand purchase of images down to one meter in resolution. These images can be used for a variety of commercial uses including mapping, managing natural resources, emergency response, and infrastructure management. We believe that G2¿s ability to model and simulate operations for EarthWatch¿s soon-to-be-launched QuickBird satellites will be an important ingredient for their success in this new industry," added Whitworth.
G2 was selected because it enables the rapid translation of satellite behavior into a software model based upon graphical objects and real-time rules. G2 is being used to simulate QuickBird¿s subsystems, such as those for communications, global positioning, and star tracking, as well as the interactions of these subsystems with each other.
The G2-based simulator will be integrated with Mission Control Center (MCC) software and allow operators to fly the simulator like the real QuickBird spacecraft. The G2-based simulator will also enable EarthWatch to perform "what-if" scenarios that support efficient planning of mission activities.
"G2 provides a solution that best fits EarthWatch's needs to simulate the behavior of the QuickBird spacecraft," stated Neal Anderson, vice president of space systems for EarthWatch Incorporated. "We are very pleased with G2 and expect to expand its utilization."
"The continued development of Gensym¿s market for intelligent management of spacecraft operations is exciting," added Lowell Hawkinson, Gensym¿s chairman and chief executive officer. "Our software is used extensively by major spacecraft operators such as NASA, McDonnell Douglas, INTELSAT, Inmarsat, EUTELSAT, Motorola Iridium, Hughes, and now EarthWatch for simulation, command and control, monitoring, and diagnostic applications."
About Gensym
Founded in 1986, Gensym Corporation is a leading supplier of software and services for intelligent operations management. Common applications include modeling and simulation for improved process design and optimization; intelligent monitoring and control for more efficient process control and higher levels of safety; fault management and diagnosis for greater levels of asset and service availability; and intelligent scheduling for optimizing production in real time. Gensym has sold more than 11,000 product licenses to organizations in manufacturing, communications, aerospace, transportation, government and other industries.
