NASA RAPTOR Radar Wind Profiler System Commissioned

DeTect has commissioned its newest RAPTOR radar wind profiler system for NASA (the National Aeronautics and Space Administration) to assess and monitor wind direction and speed in real-time for rocket launch safety.

The RAPTOR radar wind profiler system commissioned at the NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in USA also helps flight engineers to understand stresses on the launch vehicles, the company announced today.

Further, it will also be used to support US Department of Defense and commercial rocket launches from KSC and the Eastern Range for the next 20 years.

Vencore acted as prime contractor and program manager under contract to NASA, with DeTect as the radar system subcontractor.

The vertical wind profiling radar was engineered, manufactured and installed by DeTect over the last two years and went operational in late 2014.

“The RAPTOR FBS-MST provides real-time 150 meter (492 foot) resolution wind speed and direction from 2 to more than 18 kilometers (6000 to 60,000 feet) altitude,” said Scott McLaughlin, Vice President of DeTect’s Meteorological Systems Division.

“it is composed of a 250 kilowatt peak power transmitter and a 150 meter diameter antenna (over 5 acres in area) with 640 large Yagi antennas.” he added.