Six scientific instruments were mounted on three booms to isolate them from the bus and simplify the spacecraft-instrument interfaces. The Lunar Prospector mission was proposed as a joint effort of Lockheed Martin, NASA Ames Research Center, and the Lunar Research Institute. Additional important contributions came from Los Alamos National Laboratory, the University of California Berkeley Space Science Laboratory, and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. The A2100 bus is engineered for performance, flexibility, and value. Its modular design allows for customization without costly re-engineering.
Fewer parts mean maximum reliability and ease of production.
The use of lightweight composite structural components reduces launch weight and costs. Space Systems is developing remote sensing satellites that provide one-meter resolution black and white and multispectral digital imagery and other geographical information products to commercial, civil and government customers. Remote sensing involves the generation of accurate, high-resolution images from satellites or aerial photography. The images are used for applications in civil engineering and construction, land management, agriculture, mining, environmental monitoring, tax assessment, infrastructure planning and management, and other areas. Space Systems is nearing completion of the second remote sensing satellite for Space Imaging.