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Friday, February 06, 2004

Coming home

A year ago, Good people who were supposed to come home didn't. Our camera was a prototype built to check an advanced algorithm to find stars and attitude. The next generation startracker based on this technology will guide and give a very accurate imaging capability to GIFTS EO-3. It is ironic that one of the most well known spin-off technology from NASA is foam and that it was what doomed Columbia.

Most of the spacecraft broke apart near home. Most of our camera melted. Two pieces were found not far from where they were designed and built. The lens assembly was found at 31.494900 N Lat -94.41119 W Long. The base plate was found at 31.53765 N Lat -94.58580 W Long .