Ecuadorian Space Agency delivers its space technology in the U.S.

Irvine, California, May 14-2016: The Ecuadorian Space Agency EXA announced today that it has delivered its first order of space technology in the United States, after securing a contract with a group of 5 U.S. high schools in California (Irvine, Northwood, University, Woodbridge, and Beckman)  to provide parts for its first satellite IRVINE-01 and also to act as project supervisor.

EXA delivered  the Krysaor-class solar deployable arrays DSA-1, the Pegasus-class battery banks BA01/S, the NEMEA anti radiation and thermal shields, titanium structural components and magnetorquers for attitude control during an special event on the Northwood HS Cultural Center where Cdr. Ronnie Nader gave a conference about the trajectory of the EXA along its 9 years of institutional life. After this handout, the parts were tested and checked by students and teachers under controlled conditions and acepted by the Team POWER of IRVINE01 task force.

It is worth noticing that EXA delivered the parts 3 weeks earlier than the deadline specified in the contract.

Besides EXA, many other very prestigious, world class U.S. institutions participate in this project like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Brown University, Montana State University, California State Polytechnic University San Luis Obispo, Tyvak, Sorlox, Bilingual Interactive, Accion Systems, and Innovative Space Logistics. The project is funded through the Irvine Public Schools Foundation (IPSF), a nonprofit organization that raises funds to enrich the educational experience of students. EXA is the only foreign institution selected for this project that will involve at least 10 satellites in the next 12 years.

IRVINE Cubesat STEM is a very innovative project, pioneering an effort that aims to stimulate science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) at high school level in the United States with the use of space based platforms assembled by the students themselves and to offer inclusion opportunities to social minorities in the U.S. engineering and sciences communities. EXA fully endorses and officially supports this project and its goals, as they are completely compatible with EXA’s long held work philosophy and reason to exist.

EXA was selected due its unique technologies for this class of spacecraft and its advantages in the price/performance rate, this technologies were developed for the firsts Ecuadorian satellites NEE-01 PEGASO and NEE-02 KRYSAOR and the testing of this technologies was the primary mission of the satellites that both accomplished successfully. It is the first time in the history of the region that one Latin American country will provide space technology to the United States of America.

EXA is a civilian independent institution, active member of the International Astronautics Federation (IAF), member of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) and the Space Security Committee of the IAF, EXA feels honored by this selection representing our country and the region all in this new enterprise and it is very grateful with IPSF and Project IRVINE Cubesat STEM for bestowing us with their trust, which commit us to the best quality, service and performance standards to honor that trust and to demonstrate what Ecuadorians and Latin-Americans can do if we are given an opportunity to support the space development of the international community with our unique approaches and technologies, open collaboration philosophy and passionate commitment to the human space endeavor.

Contacts:
Kellie Pendergest - kpendergest@ipsf.net
Msc. Carlos Alvarez - rp@exa.ec
 

 

Referencess:

Article in Los Angeles Times:  http://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/tn-dpt-me-0326-satellite-kickoff-20160325-story.html
Article in  Business Connection: http://www.bluetoad.com/publication/?i=293968#{%22issue_id%22:293968,%22page%22:%228%22}
Official KickOff video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcrQlNNnNLM
ABC News video: http://abc7.com/science/irvine-high-school-students-hoping-to-launch-satellite/1264634/
Proyecto Irvine STEM Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/irvinecubesat/

 

Press contact: Carlos Alvarez, rp@exa.ec
EXA/2 - BP-66 / BP-E-066-140516
http://exa.ec/bp66/index-en.html