QuVIS and Rorke Data team up for NASA

Rorke Data, a subsidiary of San Jose-based Bell Microproducts, and QuVIS, the leading provider of hi fidelity high resolution motion imaging technology, have announced that a pairing of complementary solutions are now being used in conjunction with the US government's 'Return to Flight' programme.
QuVIS servers integrated with Rorke Data's Galaxy HDX series of high-speed video disc arrays were selected from a broad field of competitors following extensive technology trials and imagery comparisons.
The selection came as a result of NASA's decision to upgrade the quality and transportability of imagery available for detection and assessment of any launch anomalies related to the space shuttle programme. QuVIS servers were initially chosen for some of NASA's 'quick look' and tracker applications.
The QuVIS servers paired with Rorke Data's Galaxy storage arrays and high definition cameras were installed to shoot video of NASA spacecraft (including the Space Shuttle fleet) before, during and after the launches.
To find the solution that best addressed their demand for image quality, NASA evaluated a wide range of compressed and uncompressed systems before selecting the solutions from QuVIS and Rorke Data.
"Our main requirement was to maintain image integrity within a limited bandwidth environment," explained Rodney Grubbs, Chairman, NASA DTV Working Group. "Our image analysts found no significant difference between uncompressed files and files using wavelet compression with a QuVIS recorder."
To adequately capture images of the shuttle during takeoff, special enclosures on the launch pad hold the HD cameras, and are then connected to the QuVIS servers. Additional tracking cameras located downrange from the launch are also linked to QuVIS servers to capture images of the vehicles in flight. The data from these servers is then electronically transferred from the field to image analysis centres in Alabama, Florida and Texas where the content is stored to Rorke's Galaxy HDX systems.
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