 |
PRESS RELEASE Uppsala October 11, 2012 |
Swedish breakthrough in space on NASA satellite with electronics from ÅAC Microtec
Uppsala, Sweden – 11 October 2012
The Uppsala based company ÅAC Microtec has, on commission from the Swedish National Space Board and American NASA, delivered all the electronics to NASA’s test satellite TechEdSat, which was released from the International Space Station ISS on Thursday October 4. The satellite came to life according to plan 60 minutes later and has now demonstrated the function of ÅAC’s pioneering miniaturized electronics for low cost satellites by sending down data.
The Uppsala based company ÅAC Microtec has made a breakthrough in the US by a successful demonstration of NASA’s test satellite called TechEdSat, which was separated from the International Space Station ISS on October 4, 2012. The satellite was constructed in less than 4 months by a team from NASA Ames Research Center, San Jose State University and ÅAC Microtec.
What makes TechEdSat unique is that NASA uses electronics from Swedish ÅAC Microtec for control and operation of the satellite. Normally the countries only exchange scientific instruments and data. ÅAC Microtec was chosen for its innovative architecture and product portfolio for autonomous systems, which is based on plug-and-play protocols, and the company’s leading electronics integration ability.
“That NASA chooses to try out our computers and power supply systems for its future satellites is of course unique in the world and proof of the technological excellence we have in Sweden and the high international standing that the Swedish National Space Board has as a technology and innovation engine,” says Fredrik Bruhn, Vice President and responsible for business development at ÅAC Microtec.
The Swedish National Space Board and NASA closed a ten year collaboration agreement in June 2011 concerning the development, testing and use of small satellites, with the Uppsala based company ÅAC Microtec as the designated strategic supplier. The National Space Board and NASA makes equal investments in the respective country and share the end results on equal terms, with the task allocation that NASA handles trials and testing and the Swedish National Space Board supplies technology through ÅAC Microtec.
“It’s a great honor and recognition of ÅAC’s expertise to be chosen as a partner in the development of the satellites and autonomous systems of the future. This gives us an additional boost to intensify our commercial efforts in the US,” says Kjell Bohlin, CEO at ÅAC Microtec.
ÅAC is already busy building the next satellite demonstrator, a 10 kg (6U CubeSat) satellite that will be delivered to the US in the spring 2013 for launch and trial in the fall the same year.
“The satellite that will be tested next year is focused on demonstrating advanced communications solutions and brings us to the size of commercial small satellites that will really open up the space service market, for instance with machine – machine communication and what is called internet-of-things,” says Fredrik Bruhn, Vice President and responsible for business development at ÅAC Microtec.
For more information on ÅAC Microtec, see www.aacmicrotec.com
More in-depth information, illustrations and images of the satellite separation in space is available through these links:
- High resolution image from NASA of three small satellites with planet Earth as the background.TechEdSat is the satellite to the right.
- http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-33/hires/iss033e009458.jpg
- High resolution image from NASA where TechEdSat can be seen at the bottom, in front of the sun panels of the International Space Station ISS seconds after the separation.
- http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-33/hires/iss033e009286.jpg
- Data on TechEdSat http://www.techedsat.com
- Link to NASA’s press release http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2012/oct/HQ_12-351_Tech_Ed_Sat.html
ÅAC Microtec develops, manufactures and markets miniaturized and robust multifunctional electronics systems. By combining the best suitable packaging techniques we offer optimal solutions based on micro and MEMS technology. ÅAC Microtec was founded in 2005 as a spin-off from Uppsala University’s Ångström Laboratory.
ÅAC has a wholly-owned subsidiary, ÅAC Microtec North America Inc., at NASA Ames Research Park, Moffett Field (Mountain View) in California.
Further information is available at www.aacmicrotec.com
|
Contacts: |
|
|
|
ÅAC Microtec AB |
|
ÅAC Microtec AB |
|
Kjell Bohlin |
|
Fredrik Bruhn |
|
CEO |
|
VP Bussiness Development |
|
Phone +46 70 540 5014 |
|
Phone +46 70 7833215 |
|
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it |
|
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it |
