ABB Canada welcomes federal government’s decision to extend ISS cooperation

Quebec, Canada, Feb. 29, 2012 – ABB is pleased with the federal government decision to extend up to 2020 its cooperation to the International Space Station (ISS). This agreement will result in significant benefits for the Canadian space industry. “ISS is a unique orbiting laboratory to conduct scientific experiments. ISS laboratories are expected to accommodate an unprecedented amount of space-based research, across a wide variety of fields, including human life sciences, biological science, physical and materials science, and Earth and space science” said Jean-Rene Roy, Vice-President at ABB Inc.

ABB has performed feasibility studies for the development of a follow-on mission to the highly successful Canadian Space Agency’s SCISAT-1 satellite. On-orbit since 2003, the SCISAT-1 satellite is measuring several atmospheric chemical species to study the chemistry of the ozone layer and to allow a better understanding of the Arctic climate. The new mission, the Chemical and Aerosol Sounding Satellite (CASS), is based on a Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS), a Canadian space signature technology that leverages the heritage of SCISAT-1. The ISS is one of the promising platforms for this new space mission. About ABB:

ABB (www.abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve their performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in some 100 countries and employs approximately 130,000 people. In Canada, ABB employs over 2,500 people in 40 locations from coast to coast and generates revenues of 1.2 billion. Located in Quebec City, its Analytical business unit (www.abb.ca/analytical), which employs 200 people in the optics-photonics sector, is a world leader in infrared spectroscopy. Its spectrometers

are at the heart of systems of quality control marketed in many industrial sectors and space remote sensing systems.

Being active in the space sector for more than 30 years, ABB is today the largest Canadian company in space optics for atmospheric applications. Export revenues account for more than 70% of its total space-related revenues. Furthermore, ABB stands out through its ability to leverage space technologies for the development and improvement of products for industrial markets.

For more information please contact:

ABB Analytical – Measurement Products
Nancy Rochette, Marketing and Communications Specialist
Tel: +1 418 877 2944
nancy.c.rochette@ca.abb.com