SpaceDev Wet Chemistry Devices Begin Their Journey to Mars
SpaceDev Provided Key Mechanisms for NASA-JPL Mars Phoenix Program
SpaceDev (OTC BB:SPDV.OB) announced today that it provided key hardware and instruments for the recently launched Mars Phoenix Lander, now on its way to Mars. SpaceDev delivered five flight actuator assemblies, key components of the Wet Chemistry Laboratory for the Microscopy, Electrochemistry, and Conductivity Analyzer (MECA) instrument aboard NASA’s Mars Phoenix 2007 Lander mission, under contract to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory of Pasadena, California. The Mars Phoenix Lander spacecraft successfully launched from Cape Canaveral on August 3, 2007. Upon landing on Mars in May 2008, the SpaceDev Actuator Assembly will accept a sample of Martian soil, deliver it to a sensor assembly, or “beaker,” add liquid water to the beaker, stir the solution, and monitor pressure above the solution. It will then add several crucibles to the solution, containing calibration materials and other reagents. These functions will make it possible for the Wet Chemistry Laboratory to analyze the Martian soil by performing numerous electrochemical measurements. Source: SpaceDev, Inc.
“SpaceDev is honored to be supporting the MECA instrument — the first instrument to perform ‘wet chemistry’ on another planet,” said Mark N. Sirangelo, SpaceDev’s Chairman and CEO. “We have provided our products for Mars exploration missions for many years including Sojourner and the Mars Exploration Rovers, as well the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and the upcoming Mars Science Explorer mission. SpaceDev is proud to be a part of these historic missions in partnership with JPL and we look forward to a successful mission to search for water and other organic materials on Mars.”
About SpaceDev
SpaceDev, Inc. is a space technology/aerospace company that creates and sells affordable and innovative space products and mission solutions. For more information, visit www.spacedev.com.
Except for factual statements made herein, this news release consists of forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Words such as “believe,” “intends,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates” and variations thereof, identify forward-looking statements, although their absence does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are based on the Company’s current expectations, and are not guarantees of performance. The Company’s actual results could differ materially from its current expectations. Factors that could contribute to such differences include risks and uncertainties associated with the Company’s ability to effectively manage schedule changes or cancellation of customer orders, control costs and expenses, and obtain additional financing, if needed. Reference is also made to other factors described in the Company’s periodic reports filed with the SEC, including the Company’s most current Annual Report on Form 10-KSB and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-QSB. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release. SpaceDev does not intend to update these forward-looking statements.
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Contact:
SpaceDev Investor Relations
Investor Contact:
Richard Slansky/Jessica Schwarz
Media Contact:
Mark Sirangelo
(858) 375-2026
