[Satellite Today 04-03-09] Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corp. has been selected by Boeing as the contractor for the Ares 1 launch vehicle’s Instrument Unit Assembly flight computer and command telemetry computer, Ball announced April 2.
    Ball will employ its common computing architecture to build three flight computers that operate synchronously as well as two command telemetry computers for each Ares 1 vehicle, providing measures to ensure astronaut safety.
    Ares 1,  the manned launch vehicle being developed by NASA to launch the Orion spacecraft, is the replacement for NASA’s space shuttle program, set to retire in 2010.