Space Micro Inc. awarded space weather instrument contract to enable improved satellite health monitoring

David J. Bozek, vice president of the Space Electronics Division, commented: "Space Micro has teamed
with the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA) in Colorado Springs, Colo., to develop a MEMS-based
miniature instrument with supporting electronics.

The plan is to productize this technology and provide satellite designers with a device that offers a sensing capability that is equal to or better than current products on the market, but in a smaller package and at a lower price point."

"Our approach to meeting Air Force needs is to highly leverage commercial-off-the-shelf [COTS] technologies including commercially available MEMS foundries," says David J. Strobel, president and CEO at Space Micro.

Phase I is on track to be completed in late 2008, which will validate the lab feasibility of this concept to monitor aspects of space weather.