Press Release

Spire Receives NASA Award for Cerebral Oxygen Monitor

By SpaceRef Editor
January 16, 2004
Filed under , ,

Aimed at “Smart Helmets” Worn by Astronauts to Measure State of Awareness

Spire Corporation announced today that it has been awarded a $69,000
Phase I Small Business Innovative Research project contract from the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (“NASA”) to demonstrate
feasibility of an optical system for monitoring astronaut cerebral
blood oxygen level to determine their state of awareness during space
travel.

Roger Little, Chairman and CEO of Spire Corporation, said, “this
contract will enable Spire’s Biophotonics Lifesciences group to use
its core optoelectronics technology to develop these ‘smart helmets’
which use low power, near infrared semiconductor laser diodes. Success
can lead to ‘smart helmets’ that could prevent automotive and other
accidents caused by drowsiness from reduced oxygen in the brain.”

Spire Corporation provides products and services based upon a
common technology platform to the solar and biomedical industries
worldwide.

Certain matters described in this news release may be
forward-looking statements subject to risks and uncertainties that
could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated
in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties
include, but are not limited to, the risk of dependence on market
growth, competition and dependence on government agencies and other
third parties for funding contract research and services, as well as
other factors described in the Company’s Form 10-KSB filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.

SpaceRef staff editor.