ITT Enables Further Development of the James Webb Space Telescope
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., May 21, 2007 –ITT Corporation (NYSE: ITT) today announced that it has delivered the Near Infrared Spectrometer (NIRSpec) Structural Thermal Model (STM) focal- plane detector packaging under subcontract to Teledyne Scientific and Imaging, which then delivered it to NASA for the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). The delivery enables NASA and its partner, the European Space Agency, to further develop the NIRSpec instrument.
Teledyne’s focal plane detectors on the NIRSpec instrument enable scientists to perform enhanced spectroscopy on planetary systems and further the studies on the origins of life, which is the main mission of the JWST.
ITT is developing high-reliability packaging for the NIRSpec focal plane detectors that will withstand the harsh-environment launch into the L2 orbit. The STM focal plane detector packaging -the first of four packages – is a mass and thermal simulator with non-operational detectors that will be used for environmental testing and qualification of the NIRSpec instrument design. As part of an international collaboration, NASA will provide the packaging to the European Space Agency for integration into the NIRSpec instrument engineering model.
“For more than 50 years, we have provided precision components and systems that help the scientific world view and gather images and data from space,” said Frank Koester, ITT Space Systems Division vice-president and director, Commercial and Space Science Systems. “We are proud to play a role in the JWST, which will provide unprecedented images of the universe’s first stars and galaxies.”
The three other focal plane detector packages for the JWST are scheduled to be delivered later this year. The engineering test unit is scheduled for completion in the second quarter, and the flight models one and two will be delivered by the end of the year. ITT is also responsible for integrating components made by various members of the team to form the optical telescope element, which is the portion of the telescope that will collect light and provide sharp images of deep space. After this integration, ITT will perform a series of tests to help ensure that the optical telescope element will work properly in space.
Space is a growing market, and ITT’s presence in it continues to expand. ITT is a leader in the design and production of spaceborne navigation and remote sensing systems and ground solutions. ITT also provides government and commercial customers with reliable and efficient range and payload space launch services. To learn more, visit www.itt.com/space.
About ITT Corporation
ITT Corporation (http://www.itt.com ) supplies advanced technology products and services in several growth markets. ITT is a global leader in the transport, treatment and control of water, wastewater and other fluids. The company plays a vital role in international security through its defense communications and electronics products; space surveillance and intelligence systems; and advanced engineering and related services. It also serves the growing leisure marine and electrical connectors markets with a wide range of products. Headquartered in White Plains, N.Y., the company generated $7.8 billion in 2006 sales. In addition to the New York Stock Exchange, ITT Corporation stock is traded on the Euronext and Frankfurt exchanges.
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Media Contact:
Bernice Borrelli
585 269 5060
bernice.borrelli@itt.com
