General Dynamics C4 Systems
and Carl Hayden High School

Robotics Students from Carl Hayden High School in Scottsdale,
Arizona meet with engineers from General Dynamics and learn
about how Spirit and Opportunity communicate with Earth.

On Monday, November 19, 2007, the Carl Hayden High School Team (aka Falcon Robotics) and American Mural Project artist Ellen Griesedieck toured the General Dynamics Scottsdale and Gilbert Space Systems facilities in Arizona.

In Scottsdale, the team was introduced to space technologies relating to the GD deep space transponders used in the Mars Rover program. The group met with General Dynamics senior project leader of space systems, Keith Siemsen and manufacturing manager for space systems, Dan Glenn. They were treated to lunch and a video presentation. Sporting static proof lab coats, the Falcons toured the entire facility visiting various GD experts at their work stations to get a first hand look at each intricate phase of the manufacturing process. The Small Deep Space Transponder (SDST) was developed by General Dynamics and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory to provide the spacecraft terminal for X-Band and Ka-Band tele-communications with the NASA's Deep Space Network. The SDST's flexible design allows it to meet the telecommunications needs of nearly every deep-space mission, a tiny package which is the life link to Earth for our satellites in space.

In Gilbert, John Kopplin, Business Development Manager for Space Systems Programs, gave the team a full tour of the satellite manufacturing facility, stopping at each station to explain the entire testing and development process of their satellite systems, ranging from the RHESSI to the Coriolis Satellite. The tour included a look at the pressurized chambers where the satellites are subjected to vibration and shock testing, temperature fluctuations ranging from -50 to +200 degrees. With few people, outside the GD staff allowed in the building, it is rare to get this intimate a look at such a highly sophisticated technology.