WTVD ABC 11's news coverage on the role Geomagic played in NASA's return to flight
Geomagic software plays critical role in shuttle’s return to flight
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., July 13, 2005 - Geomagic Studio, Geomagic’s reverse-engineering software, is playing a critical role in returning NASA’s space shuttle to flight.
Geomagic Studio will be used to reduce risk and increase safety for the shuttle mission. As the shuttle nears the space station, it will roll over to expose its underside. Video surveys and detailed 3D scanning inspections using a 50-foot-long extension of the Discovery’s robot arm will be conducted to determine damage to the tiles underneath the wings.
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| Damaged test tiles modeled using Geomagic Studio |
Scan data will be transmitted to Houston, where Geomagic Studio will be used to process the data and create a 3D model of the damaged tiles. The 3D model will provide the data to create tool paths for cutting facsimiles of potentially dangerous damage into an array of test tiles. The reproductions of the damaged tiles will be tested in NASA’s ArcJet facility to see if they can withstand the heat and stress of reentry.
If tile damage is considered too extensive for safe reentry and return to Earth, the situation could call for a spacewalk by astronauts to make repairs. In this case, the test tiles will be used to develop the step-by-step repair process that would be used during the spacewalk.
Geomagic engineers have been placed on call in case their technical assistance is needed during the flight.
“We feel privileged that NASA has selected Geomagic Studio software for this critical role,” says Rob Black, Geomagic’s account executive for the project. “It is a major validation of our software’s high level of automation, speed, reliability and accuracy.”
About Geomagic – the 3D digitizing and processing leader
Geomagic (www.geomagic.com) simplifies 3D digitizing and processing, enabling customers to accelerate their design-build cycles and ensure quality at every step. More than 3,000 professionals in industries such as automotive, aerospace, medical devices and consumer products use Geomagic software. They benefit from unprecedented time savings, fast learning curves, increased productivity, and high levels of user satisfaction. Geomagic has headquarters in Research Triangle Park, N.C., subsidiaries in Europe and Asia, and distributors worldwide.
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