NASA Television (NTV), which provides all feeds to news organizations from within the Kennedy Space Center, has installed CopperHead G2 transceivers on seven Panasonic 720P HD cameras positioned at various locations around the shuttle launch pad and at remote camera sites. The CopperHeads transmit the HD video signals over NTV’s existing fiber optic network to the base station, spanning distances of up to 3.5 miles. For the cameras that are remotely controlled, the two-way fiber link enables engineers to remotely adjust iris settings and other cameras. An additional four cameras in the TV auditorium carry CopperHead G2 units for coverage of press conferences, interviews with shuttle astronauts, and other events.

“As we moved to HD transmission for all of our broadcast feeds, it was critical that the new technologies utilize our existing fiber optic network to make the transition as smooth as possible,” said Kent Pontius of InDyne, the NASA contractor who provides communications services for the Kennedy Space Center. “With the CopperHead G2 units, we’re able to provide the highest-quality HD feeds, even from long distances.”

While the launch pad CopperHeads use local power, the television auditorium systems feature Telecast’s PowerPlus option, which enables NTV to supply power to the cameras via SMPTE hybrid cable from the base station.

“With high-quality HD video that puts viewers right at the scene for the excitement of a space shuttle launch and other important moments in the space program, NTV is providing a vital service to the global media and citizens,” said Richard Cerny, president, Telecast Fiber Systems. “We’re glad we were able to meet NTV’s specialized requirements and provide the right solutions for its transition to HD.”

More information about fiber optic systems from Telecast is available online at www.telecast-fiber.com.

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About NASA Television
NASA Television (NTV) is a resource designed to provide real-time and video coverage of NASA activities and missions, as well as providing resource video to the media and educational programming to teachers, students, and the general public. The station provides a large amount of educational programming, and also covers NASA space launches and missions (such as the space shuttle) live. NTV has three one-hour programming blocks beginning at 12:00 p.m. Eastern: NTV Video File (resource material for the media), the NASA Gallery (programming of NASA's early years, live press conferences, or replays of previous live events), and the Education File (live and previously produced programming). These blocks are repeated throughout the day, ending at 3:00 a.m. Eastern. For more information, visit www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv.

About InDyne
Based in McLean, Va., InDyne, Inc. is the prime contractor for NASA’s Kennedy Integrated Communication Services (KICS) contract. InDyne provides communications services at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., in support of the Space Shuttle Program, International Space Station Program, Payload Carriers Program, and Launch Services Program Office Payloads. InDyne also provides center-wide business engineering logistics, facilities management, hardware and software integration and development for voice, video, and data communications. For more information, visit www.indyneinc.com.