MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. -- Powerful computers developed by SGI (NYSE: SGI) have been enlisted to transform nearly 1 trillion measurements recorded by Shuttle Endeavor into the most detailed 3D topographic map of Earth ever made. Once complete, the map of Earth will have numerous scientific, commercial and military applications such as disaster relief, agriculture, city planning, mineral exploration and military planning.

The project is called the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) and is a cooperative effort between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA) and the German (DLR) and Italian (ASI) space agencies. It is managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA, for NASA's Earth Science Enterprise, Washington, DC.

Space Shuttle Endeavor rocketed skyward last Friday for an 11-day mission to scan all land surfaces that lay between 60 degrees north latitude and 54 degrees south latitude-more than 80% of the Earth's land surface-using special radar. Through a process called interferometry, C-Band radar echoes are converted into digital data (0s and 1s) and stored for later processing. During its mission, Endeavor will gather approximately 9.8 terabytes of raw data that will be stored on 300 high-density digital tapes (equivalent to about 15,000 CDs). Upon Endeavor's return, the C-Band radar data will be processed at JPL on powerful SGI(tm) Origin(tm) systems using a method called mosaicking to generate a spectacular three-dimensional image of Earth.

While Endeavor is in orbit, SGI systems are processing radar data for instrument data quality monitoring and for providing feedback to mission planners issuing instrument commands. SGI Origin servers are also being used to run an interferometric processor to generate the C-Band derived images released on JPL's Web site (see NEWS RELEASES at http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/).

Capable of handling very large data sets, SGI Origin servers uniquely combine high bandwidth, large memory, and intense compute power to help solve the world's toughest problems. The advanced capabilities of Origin servers account for SGI's dominance in space imaging, with approximately 80% of the U.S. imaging satellite ground stations equipped with SGI systems.

SGI provides a broad range of high-performance computing and advanced graphics solutions that enable customers to understand and conquer their toughest computing problems. Headquartered in Mountain View, Calif., with offices worldwide, the company is located on the Web at www.sgi.com.

Contact: SGI

More Shuttle News:

Exclusive - Shuttle Mission Begins Its Ambitious Map of the World (Feb. 12, 2000)

Exclusive - A Sneak Peek at the First Digital Three-D Map of the World (Feb 14, 2000 - 10:30 PM)

SGI Website