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L3Harris to Provide Audio System for NASA’s First Crewed Flight to the Moon Since Apollo
Written by: Space Foundation Editorial Team
Credit: NASA MELBOURNE, Fla. — April 18, 2023 — L3Harris Technologies (NYSE:LHX) will provide the Mission Astronaut Communication System for NASA’s Artemis II mission, America’s first crewed flight to the Moon in more than 50 years.
L3Harris supplies the critical audio interface, speaker and control unit onboard the Lockheed Martin-built Orion spacecraft, which allows mission-essential communication among astronauts, NASA and the world. Anticipated to launch in 2024, the lunar flyby with four astronauts onboard will test NASA’s capabilities for human deep-space exploration.
“For more than six decades, we have partnered with NASA to develop technology that has made significant impacts on space exploration,” said Ed Zoiss, President, Space and Airborne Systems, L3Harris. “For as long as NASA has been sending humans to space, L3Harris has been pushing the limits of audio technological advancements, providing critical communication capabilities for all aspects of the space mission.
“The engineering, design and manufacturing of the L3Harris audio system can withstand the unique demands of human spaceflight; this along with our history of proven solutions, sets us apart from the competition.”
L3Harris’ audio control unit acts as the brain for the communications system and emergency radio while the speaker unit provides the audio. The lightweight audio interface unit clips to an astronaut’s suit and incorporates voice sensitivity for hands-free use. The system features five voice channels, low-power consumption and 13 alarms that provide real-time situational awareness.
The L3Harris audio system, designed and qualified to operate in deep space and provided to Lockheed Martin for integration onto Orion is adaptable to meet a variety of future NASA or commercial spaceflight missions. L3Harris designed and built the audio system in Palm Bay, Florida and provided it to Lockheed Martin, NASA’s prime contractor for Orion in October 2022 at Kennedy Space Center. The three-part audio system, installed in the Artemis II Orion capsule, is currently undergoing system-level tests in preparation for the upcoming mission.
Additionally, L3Harris supplies launch vehicle avionics technology for NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) Rocket, which launched the Artemis I mission and will launch the subsequent Artemis II and III missions. L3Harris provides critical avionics for the booster, core and uppers stage, enabling SLS to launch safely.
About L3Harris Technologies
L3Harris Technologies is a Trusted Disruptor for the global aerospace and defense industry. With customers’ mission-critical needs always in mind, our 46,000 employees deliver end-to-end technology solutions connecting the space, air, land, sea and cyber domains. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect management’s current expectations, assumptions and estimates of future performance and economic conditions. Such statements are made in reliance upon the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results and future trends to differ materially from those matters expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Statements about technology capabilities are forward-looking and involve risks and uncertainties. L3Harris disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
About Space Symposium
Space Symposium, hosted by Space Foundation since 1984, is the premier assembly for the global space ecosystem. The live event, held in Colorado Springs, Colorado, is widely attended by commercial and government leaders, professionals, entrepreneurs, and teachers around the globe. To learn more about Space Symposium, visit www.space symposium.org.
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