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ROCKLIN, Calif. (KCRA) — A Rocklin-based company has been selected by a NASA contractor to develop critical components for a lunar rover that will be used in Artemis missions.
Cameron Spangler, a Northern California native, founded Innova Product Development nearly two decades ago, initially focusing on components for medical equipment and aviation. Now, his company is subcontracting for NASA’s Artemis program.
“Definitely not for doing stuff for going back to the moon,” Spangler said when asked if he ever imagined working for NASA. “We’ve always had big ideas and big stuff going on, but getting to work on things that impact people in a positive way has always been a part of our DNA.”
Spangler explained that the opportunity came after years of collaboration with the NASA contractor.
“Then it was a process that took several years actually. We did some projects for this same company, and then two years later they get the bid from NASA, and we’re ready to go on the rover,” he said.
Three companies are working to build lunar rovers, which are expected to be sent to the moon by 2028. Innova is contributing two subsystems for the rover, including a communication hub that ensures all parts of the rover can interact seamlessly.
“We’re doing two subsystems for the rover. One of the systems is a communication hub, so it makes sure all the little parts of the rover can talk to each other and they can do that,” Spangler said.
The second subsystem is a vital controller that monitors the rover’s systems and ensures redundancy in case of a failure.
“If one of the systems goes down, then it’s monitoring those systems and it makes sure to bring up the redundance so everything can continue working,” Spangler said.
While Spangler never imagined working for NASA, he is now focused on expanding his team in Rocklin to tackle the high-profile project.
“It absolutely is necessary. We have a lot of work to get done, and this is the highest profile one, and we need to make sure we do it right,” he said.
The lunar rovers are part of NASA’s broader mission to establish a permanent base on the moon.
“I mean this is the first time humankind will try to make a permanent location on another rock out there. The history of it, the weight of it, does not go over my head,” Spangler said.
Innova is currently looking to hire three more engineers to support the project.
Spangler said he plans to be there when the rovers are launched toward the moon.
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