Marotta Propulsion Systems On-Board Disaster Monitoring Constellation (DMC)

Cheltenham, England (PRWEB) December 12, 2005

Marotta UK is pleased to announce that it has designed, developed and qualified equipment for the cold gas propulsion systems on board each of the satellites in the Disaster Monitoring Constellation (DMC), including high performance equipment for the Beijing-1, recently launched by Surrey Satellite Technology, Ltd. (SSTL).

Built by an international consortium, the Beijing-1 completes the constellation of five low-cost satellites designed to provide daily images of the Earth, AlSAT-1 (2002), BILSAT (2003), NigeriaSat (2003), UK-DMC (2003), and Beijing-1 (2005). The satellites are equally spaced in a polar orbit allowing the Earth to be photographed in a short period of time. Beijing-1 combines a multi-spectral camera with a high-resolution panchromatic imager to generate detailed images of the earth. Once it joins the other members of the constellation, it will operate for roughly five years to help monitor worldwide natural and man-made disasters, along with the observation of the environment and water resources.

Developed in collaboration with SSTL, Marotta’s propulsion systems are used in the orbit phasing, station keeping and attitude control. Products include fill and drain valves, propellant storage tanks for butane, high-performance miniature solenoid isolating valves as well as thrust control valves qualified with SSTL Low Power Resisto Jet Thruster. To eliminate liquid sloshing effects, Xenon gas is used as the propellant for Beijing-1. Marotta low-pressure miniature solenoid isolation valves and pulse operated control valves were further developed for high-pressure duty in the SSTL “bang-bang” pressure regulator.

“We have been working closely with SSTL and are proud to be a contributing force to this exciting program,” said Michael Leahan, Vice President and Chief Sales Officer of Marotta. “We understand the harsh environment of space, and have a long history as a major international supplier of fluid controls to satellite programs. This program represents our continued commitment to the development of our propulsion technology.”

About Marotta Controls

Marotta Controls, Inc., a worldwide authority in control solutions, has more than 60 years of leadership in providing customers with a broad array of high-performance products including high-pressure pneumatics, high-pressure pure air generators, pneumatic weapon ejection, electronic controllers, valve controllers, pressure reducers and manifolds, relief valves and check valves.

Marotta is a contributor to today’s most significant military, commercial aerospace and space programs, including the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, F-18 Hornet, F-22 Raptor, as well as the Airbus A380 and Airbus A320. In addition, Marotta offers a wide range of systems, products and services in market sectors including Satellite Propulsion Systems, Electronic Control Systems, Surface and Undersea Warfare Systems, Composite Systems and Weapons Systems.

Marotta is headquartered in New Jersey with divisions in Cheltenham, UK and Dublin, Ireland. For more information please visit the company’s website at http://www.marotta.com

Contact:

Tara Castorina

Marotta Controls, Inc.

973-334-7800 x506

###