60-plus Years of Partnership with NASA for Space Exploration and Science

Mission Solutions to Push the Boundaries of Human Knowledge

L3Harris' partnership with NASA spans the agency's six-decade history, beginning with miniaturized electronic tracking and pulse code technologies for early spacecraft; continuing through the Mercury, Apollo, Space Shuttle, and International Space Station missions; and contributing to exciting new programs, such as the James Webb Space Telescope and Orion's first crewed flight.

60-plus Years of Partnership with NASA for Space Exploration and Science

In this video, Bill Gattle, L3Harris' Space Systems President, kicks off an overview of the 60-year partnership between L3Harris and NASA. More program-specific videos follow below.

With the company's headquarters and many key operations located on Florida's Space Coast, multiple generations of L3Harris employees have experienced the excitement of NASA missions firsthand. For many, these missions were the inspiration to pursue careers in advanced technologies.

NASA 60th Partnership Downloads

60-plus Years Partnering with NASA Science and Exploration Timeline

L3Harris: Partnering with NASA for 60-Plus Years

Communications and Telemetry

L3Harris communications and telemetry technologies have served many key NASA missions. Our antenna system for Echo, NASA's earliest communications satellite, enabled the first active, two-way communications between a space satellite and Earth. Our pulse code modulation (PCM) technology for NASA’s Nimbus weather satellites marked the first use of PCM in an orbiting space vehicle and helped deliver unprecedented long-term forecasts.

Other L3Harris solutions, including our unfurlable space antennas, ground systems, and ground-based antennas, have played a major role in NASA's Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System since the program's beginning. L3Harris' 5-meter unfurlable space antenna supplied critical communications monitoring connectivity with the Jupiter-orbiting Galileo spacecraft. Our fine guidance and focus control equipment has served the Hubble Space Telescope throughout its nearly three decades of operation.

Similarly, manned missions have relied on L3Harris communications and telemetry systems. Mercury astronauts used L3Harris radio technology to communicate with tracking stations. L3Harris equipment performed flawlessly aboard Apollo spacecraft and lunar modules. Apollo missions also relied on an L3Harris antenna system to help recovery teams locate command modules after splashdown. L3Harris technology was on board every space shuttle, either providing direct mission support via onboard computers and electronics, or as part of the spacecraft's payload. The International Space Station depends on onboard audio/video distribution technology from L3Harris and is using our reconfigurable software-defined radio technology to advance communications technology.

Imaging and Remote Sensing Systems

L3Harris’ imaging and remote sensing systems and services for NASA programs have enabled scientists to gain a clearer picture and better understanding of the earth, moon, planets, and larger universe. Our remote sensing technology enabled NASA to deliver many firsts, including the first photos of the Earth from the moon and extreme close-ups of the lunar surface taken by Apollo astronauts on the moon. Our imaging sensors enabled the Mars Sojourner Rover to capture unprecedented images of Mars' surface. L3Harris' Advanced Baseline Imager is now delivering revolutionary new products for weather forecasting as the primary instrument on the new Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites R Series, a collaborative NOAA and NASA program.

NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory has captured images of deep space phenomena using an imaging system designed, integrated, and tested by L3Harris. L3Harris integrated components to form the optical telescope element of the James Webb Space Telescope, and we designed and administered its cryogenic testing. Looking further ahead, we will provide the crucial audio communication system on board the Orion spacecraft in support of NASA's first human deep-space exploration mission.

Other L3Harris/NASA Videos

These videos highlight the 60-plus year partnership between L3Harris and NASA.

Space Shuttle

L3Harris communications equipment flies on board the Space Shuttle Columbia in April of 1981. On future flights a L3Harris payload data interleaver monitors conditions of various payloads, including scientific instruments and new satellites. L3Harris technology is on all successive shuttle flights.

James Webb Space Telescope

L3Harris integrated components to form the James Webb Space Telescope optical telescope element and performed optical tests at cryogenic temperatures to help ensure the optical telescope element will work properly in space.

CoNNeCT on ISS

L3Harris developed a Ka-band software-defined radio as part of an interoperable radio architecture on board the International Space Station in the CoNNeCT program, later called the Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) Testbed.

Onboard Communications for the ISS

Space Shuttle Atlantis delivered L3Harris' Internal Audio System (IAS) and Internal Video Distribution Subsystem (IVDS) to the International Space Station as part of its fiber-optic communications network.

Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope

Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is an under-development NASA observatory designed to settle essential questions in the areas of dark energy, exoplanets, and infrared astrophysics.

Mars Rover Mission

The first Mars rover Sojourner landed on the red planet in 1997 and sent back stunning images taken with L3Harris imaging sensors.

Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS)

L3Harris' long-running Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) work included both ground and space segments. L3Harris Advanced Programs Engineer Phil Henderson describes the early work for TDRSS that became the foundation for the company's highly successful space antenna business.

Chandra X-ray Observatory

The Chandra X-ray Observatory launched in 1999 with a telescope designed, integrated and tested by L3Harris Technologies.

Lunar Orbiter Spacecraft

In 1966, L3Harris cameras map the lunar surface prior to Apollo moon landings and take the first photographs of Earth from the moon.

Early Partnerships

L3Harris' partnership with NASA spans the agency's 60-year history, beginning with miniaturized electronic tracking and pulse code technologies for early spacecraft; continuing through the Mercury, Apollo, Space Shuttle, and International Space Station missions; and contributing to exciting new programs, such as the James Webb Space Telescope and Orion's first crewed flight.

Artemis II Deep-space Mission

Crucial audio communication system in the Orion spacecraft will connect astronauts and NASA during the Artemis II mission, a lunar flyby that will lead to a return to the moon and on to Mars exploration.