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Spinoff story
Connectors Link Data Networks for Orion, Industry
A real-world story of NASA technology finding a life beyond the mission.
About this technology
Overview
The Orion crew capsule may resemble its Apollo ancestor on the surface, but its internal systems reflect nearly half a century of development. Among these is a 21st-century data system capable of quickly transmitting massive amounts of data, overseen by Johnson Space Center and designed by Smiths Connectors, based in Costa Mesa, California. The company has commercialized data connectors it designed for NASA in other demanding applications, such as in the aviation and oil and gas exploration markets.