Raytheon is partnering with Hamilton Sundstrand to compete for a contract to develop a communications system for NASA's Constellation Space Suit System. The contract will be awarded in June 2008.

If awarded the contract, Raytheon will develop a new communications system based on its MicroLight radio solution. The system, which will be mounted in spacesuits, will incorporate MicroLight's networked communications position-location features to compute and track an astronaut’s position on the moon. Raytheon will also be adding new capabilities to the system.

MicroLight will be used by tomorrow's astronauts on the moon's lunar base in the year 2022. It is NASA's vision to use the lunar base as a launch site for manned exploration to Mars in 2032.

Recently, the two companies partnered for a demonstration of the system in California. View this video for a firsthand look at this innovative technology.

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