The annual NASA project provides near space access for 12 undergraduate and graduate student experiments to be carried by a NASA high-altitude research balloon. The flights typically last 15 to 20 hours and reach an altitude of 23 miles. Experiments may include compact satellites or prototypes.

The experiments are flown aboard the High Altitude Student Platform, or HASP, a balloon-born instrument stack launched from the Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility's remote site in Fort Sumner, N.M. The goals of the project are to provide a space test platform to encourage student research and stimulate the development of student satellite payloads and other space-engineering products.

HASP seeks to enhance the technical skills and research abilities of students in critical science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines. The project is a joint effort between NASA and the Louisiana Space Grant Consortium.

NASA's HASP houses and provides power, mechanical support and communications for test articles and instruments. It can support approximately 200 pounds of student payloads. Since 2006, the HASP program has selected 44 payloads for flight, the work of more than 200 students from across the United States.

A question-and-answer teleconference for interested parties will be held Nov. 13 at 11 a.m. EST. The deadline for applications is Dec. 18. NASA is targeting fall 2010 for the next flight opportunity. NASA expects to make selections in January 2010. Teleconference dial in information, application materials and technical details are available in the Call for Proposals document at:

http://laspace.lsu.edu/hasp

Information about NASA's scientific balloon program is available at:

http://sites.wff.nasa.gov/code820

More information about NASA's education programs is available at:

http://www.nasa.gov/education

— WebWireID107202 —

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Intergraph® has acquired the SIGRAPH® business unit from Technische Computer Systeme Sussen GmbH (TCS), a leading computer-aided engineering and document management system (CAE/DMS) vendor headquartered in Sussen, Germany. The acquisition includes SIGRAPH.CAE®, an innovative software application for electrical and process control engineering with a significant market presence in the global oil and gas, metals and power industries.

The strategic acquisition will further strengthen Intergraph's SmartPlant Enterprise suite through additional detailed electrical and control system design and deliverables capabilities. SmartPlant Enterprise is an integrated solution suite that provides full design, construction, materials and engineering data management capabilities needed for the creation, safe operation and maintenance of large-scale process, power, marine and offshore projects. The software's capital Project Life Cycle Management (cPLM) also enables a smoother data handover for EPCs to owner operators and for owner operators to more easily maintain, refurbish or modify their plants. Intergraph remains committed to providing the process, power and marine industry with the broadest suite of engineering solutions on the marketplace today to the benefit of both EPCs and owner operators.

SIGRAPH customers will benefit from Intergraph's large research, development and global support teams specializing in engineering solutions. SIGRAPH clients will also receive uninterrupted support, maintenance, and software upgrades as part of their maintenance agreement with Intergraph. Existing SmartPlant Enterprise clients will benefit from SIGRAPH's extended scope and additional functionality as Intergraph continually enhances integration and migration of the SIGRAPH solution into the SmartPlant Enterprise solution. The combination of SIGRAPH with SmartPlant Enterprise will lead to an improvement in the wiring, cabling and detailed design functions across the engineering and schematics solution.

Both EPCs and owner operators will benefit from having additional details on wiring schematics for trouble shooting and maintenance projects. The instrumentation and electrical deliverables are a key component of the plant operational document set, comprising approximately 50 percent of the documentation that owners use and maintain for operation of the plant.

'The SIGRAPH business unit acquisition advances our mission to provide electrical and schematics engineering software solutions to our customers and target markets around the world,' said R. Halsey Wise, Intergraph chairman, president and CEO. 'The SIGRAPH software suite provides our Process, Power & Marine division with complementary electrical engineering technologies and expertise that will allow Intergraph to better serve and provide additional value to our global customer base. We remain committed to the advancement of the SIGRAPH software and believe its customers will benefit from Intergraph's global product development and support capabilities. This transaction illustrates our continued commitment to invest in our product portfolio and the future growth of our company.'

For more information about the SIGRAPH acquisition, please visit www.intergraph.com/ppm/sigraph.aspx.

# # #

About TCS
Since 1981, TCS Sussen GmbH has been focused on universal IT-CAE/DMS business solutions for the process and discrete industries. Headquartered in Süssen, Germany, TCS is a CAE/DMS technology company for Electrical Engineering Solutions (EES). With 100 employees located in Sussen and Kolkata, India (with its subsidiary company, AMB CIE Ltd.), TCS offers its solutions on an international basis with more than 3,000 software licenses in the market.

About Intergraph
Intergraph is the leading global provider of engineering and geospatial software that enables customers to visualize complex data. Businesses and governments in more than 60 countries rely on Intergraph's industry-specific software to organize vast amounts of data into understandable visual representations and actionable intelligence. Intergraph's software and services empower customers to build and operate more efficient plants and ships, create intelligent maps, and protect critical infrastructure and millions of people around the world.

Intergraph operates through two divisions: Process, Power & Marine (PP&M) and Security, Government & Infrastructure (SG&I). Intergraph PP&M provides enterprise engineering software for the design, construction and operation of plants, ships and offshore facilities. Intergraph SG&I provides geospatially-powered solutions to the defense and intelligence, public safety and security, government, transportation, photogrammetry, utilities, and communications industries. For more information, visit www.intergraph.com.

— WebWireID107198 —

ERIE, Pa. (November 6, 2009) – Bliley Technologies, Inc., a worldwide leader in crystal controlled frequency solutions, has introduced the NV45AD1725 OCVCXO (oven controlled voltage controlled crystal oscillator) configured specifically for ultra low phase noise results in vibration-rich environments.

Packaged with a standard, 1-inch-square footprint and with a .46 inch height, the 100 MHz NV45AD1725 offers the lowest phase noise available in its class, as well as design flexibility for electronics engineers specifying substitute components and upgrades. Well suited for microwave communication, radar, navigation and equipment systems, the NV45AD1725 is available in both leaded and RoHS compliant versions.

'Historically, phase noise has been a major, limiting factor related to the successful operation of sophisticated communication and radar systems subjected to vibration effects. The 100 MHz NV45AD1725 is designed to meet that specific engineering requirement. Although it is available as a standard part, customization is an option for advanced technology programs,' said Dennis Barrick, Bliley's Global Vice President of Marketing and Business Development.

To review complete NV45AD1725 OCVCXO specifications online, visit Bliley Technologies at www.bliley.com/datasheets/NV45AD1725_single_board_100MHz.pdf.

About Bliley Technologies, Inc.:

Bliley has been producing state-of-the-art, low phase noise products since 1930 and is recognized internationally as a provider of quality frequency generation solutions for these industries: SATCOM/space; military; aerospace electronics; wireless and wireline communication; instrumentation; and consumer electronics. The company specializes in producing frequency control components for demanding applications.

At its state-of-the-art, ISO 9001:2000 certified manufacturing facilities, Bliley designs and produces:

--Oven Controlled Crystal Oscillators (OCXOs)
--Temperature Compensated Crystal Oscillators (TCXOs)
--Voltage Controlled Crystal Oscillators (VCXOs)
--Crystal Oscillators (XOs)
--Precision AT, SC, IT & FC cut crystals
--Quartz Transducers.

For more information, contact Bliley (www.bliley.com) at 2545 West Grandview Boulevard, Erie, Pa., 16506-4512. Phone: (814) 838-3571.

###

CONTACT:

Dana Nwaizu
(814) 838-3571, Ext. 283
DanaN@bliley.com
www.bliley.com

— WebWireID107161 —

ROCHESTER, N.Y.— ITT (NYSE:ITT) announced today that Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Japan's largest satellite manufacturer, has selected ITT Space Systems to build the imaging systems for two geostationary satellites being built for the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). The two geostationary satellites, named Himawari-8 and Himawari-9, will provide round-the-clock weather forecasts and severe weather alerts for the eastern Asia and Oceania.

The Himawari payloads will be based on the Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) that ITT is currently building for the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-R-series, or GOES-R, for NOAA's next-generation geostationary constellation. This improved imager has the capability to monitor three times the amount of atmospheric conditions than current generation payloads, creating superior imagery data for severe weather analysis and forecast every 30 seconds.

"This is a key win for ITT Space Systems Division. It's our largest international contract to date; and when combined with the Advanced Baseline Imager work we're doing for NASA, firmly establishes ITT as the worldwide leader for design and development of this class of meteorological instrument," said Rob Mitrevski, vice president for Commercial and Space Science. "We're very proud of the fact that ITT meteorological payloads will help save lives and protect property around the world for many years to come."

The Himawari (Japanese for "sunflower") satellites, formally known as the Japanese Geostationary Meteorological Satellite series, are part of the World Weather Watch project within the World Meteorological Organization. Himawari-8 is expected to launch in 2014, followed by Himawari-9 in 2016.

— WebWireID107126 —

Following a 3,000 mile journey across Europe, Africa and the Middle East, the aircraft, flown by BAE Systems test pilots, arrived safely at Air Force Station Bidar to join the rest of the Hawk fleet in delivering fast jet training to the IAF.

The aircraft, HT001, which was actually the first IAF Hawk to be built, has, for nearly three years served as a flight test platform and proving ground for the integration of new systems and capabilities onto the IAF Hawk fleet .

As well as development and acceptance flights, HT001 was also a key component in the programme which saw Indian Air Force flying instructors training to teach student pilots on the Hawk. This programme took place prior to the delivery of Hawks to India allowing the Indian training programme to start at the earliest opportunity.

Michael Christie, Senior Vice President, India for BAE Systems Military Air Solutions, said: 'Hawk has brought a step change in pilot training capabilities for the IAF and this aircraft, which was the first India Hawk to be built, has been a key part of developing further capabilities for the Indian Air Force.

'During its time here at BAE Systems, HT001 has proven to be extremely reliable, delivering excellent service from its time as a training platform for Indian Air Force instructors, through to the on-time and to budget completion of the recent flight development programme.

'The first Hawk was delivered to the IAF in November 2007 and other than this final development aircraft, deliveries were completed in 2008. Whilst this marks the completion of aircraft deliveries by BAE Systems to the Indian Air Force, we continue to provide support services to the IAF, and work closely with our industrial partners, HAL, in meeting the fast jet training needs of the Indian Air Force.'

In arriving at Air Force Station Bidar, the home of the Indian Hawk fleet, HT001 becomes the 860th Hawk delivered across the globe.

— WebWireID107124 —

Firing crews for the launch were from the 5th Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery from Fort Lewis, WA. This test firing of a unitary GMLRS met all mission objectives, which included:
• Verify production of GMLRS and HIMARS production lines;
• Validating rocket and launcher reliability;
• Proving performance of system software; and
• Obtaining performance, technical and reliability data.

'Lockheed Martin is constantly improving its products to give our customers more value and enhanced capabilities,' said Scott Arnold, vice president for Precision Fires and Combat Maneuver Systems at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. 'Operational feedback from deployed forces is providing us valuable insight so we can enhance our systems' capabilities to better support the service members we rely on to defend our nations' frontiers.'

GMLRS is a combat-proven evolutionary family of rockets that also scored numerous successes again in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, where more than 1,200 have been fired by the U.S. Army and Marine Corps, and British Army artillery in Afghanistan and Iraq. The GMLRS system, in combat, has maintained a reliability rating of over 98 percent.

GMLRS is the world's premier long-range rocket artillery round designed specifically for destroying high-priority targets at ranges of 70 km and beyond. Successfully employed in both urban and non-urban environments, it is able to operate in all climate and light conditions while remaining beyond the range of most conventional weapons. Each GMLRS is packaged in a MLRS launch pod and is fired from the MLRS Family of Launchers.

The GMLRS rocket used in this test was fired from a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launcher, the newest member of the MLRS launcher family. HIMARS can accommodate the entire family of MLRS munitions, including all variants of the Guided MLRS rocket and Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles. Designed to enable troops to engage and defeat artillery, air defense concentrations, trucks, light armor and personnel carriers, as well as support troop and supply concentrations, HIMARS can launch its missiles and move away from the launch area before enemy forces locate the launch site. HIMARS can be transported by C-130 'Hercules' aircraft, which allows HIMARS to be deployed into areas inaccessible to heavier launchers, and is a force multiplier to the units it supports. GMLRS is an international cooperative program among the United States, France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom. Other international customers include the United Arab Emirates and Singapore.

— WebWireID107117 —

'This award demonstrates our long-running commitment to serving our Florida Space Coast customers,' said Sam Cole, vice president and general manager of aerospace solutions for BAE Systems. 'We've been supporting AFTAC for more than 15 years, and we'll continue to make significant contributions to the Air Force's critical role in protecting national security.'

The five-year contract will be managed from BAE Systems' new facility in Melbourne, Florida, recently opened to accommodate the company's growing presence along the Space Coast. The new contract includes an initial one-year award of $4 million, plus four option years. Work will be performed on-site at the Air Force base. The company currently employs 80 people at the facility and expects to hire up to 40 network design engineers and installation technicians over the next year.

BAE Systems' Melbourne facility also supports the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and NASA's Kennedy Space Center.

— WebWireID107115 —

Arlington, Va.- The Pentagon's network infrastructure will continue to receive top tier operations and maintenance support now with an award of a $292.7 million contract to Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) by the U.S. Army Information Technology Agency (ITA).

Lockheed Martin will continue to provide network operations maintenance, management, and security support for all data networks within the Pentagon and the National Capital Region. The program provides constant, round-the-clock support through the Network Infrastructure Service Center.

'We're thrilled to continue to support the critical mission of the Pentagon by ensuring top quality, secure networks,' said Ron Stefano, Vice President for Information Systems & Global Service-Defense. 'It is truly a testament to the solid partnership our team has with our military customer. Their mission is our mission, and we are proud to support them.'

In 2000, Lockheed Martin won a 10- year contract with the U.S. Army to serve as the Pentagon's Information Technology provider under the Information Technology Agency (ITA) contract. During this period a massive Pentagon renovation effort was under way, and Lockheed Martin was responsible for providing the IT infrastructure and network management from the customers wall plate all the way out to the networks.

On March 1, 2009, the Army awarded a sole source six month contract to Lockheed Martin to bridge the gap between the previous and current contracts, consolidating two separate existing contracts at the Pentagon - the Network Infrastructure Services Operation (NISO) and the Pentagon Primary Technical Control Facility contracts.

The program recently achieved International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 20000 certification for the ITA Enterprise Transport Management program, providing the customer with the satisfaction and advantage of a third party verification that Lockheed Martin uses the best IT practices in the world to support their mission.

— WebWireID107112 —

RED BANK, NJ and DENVER, CO – November 5, 2009

WHO: Joe Federbush, vice president, sales and marketing, Exhibit Surveys, Inc.

WHAT: Blue Goose Exhibitor Training Center, 'Proving the Value of Trade Shows in a Down Economy'
One of the first things to be cut in a down economy is the trade show and marketing budget. Exhibitors are under pressure from all sides to justify their participation in trade shows. Fortunately, trade shows take on a renewed importance in a tough economy and can be a huge time and money saver when trying to reach qualified prospects. In this interactive session, you'll learn about historical trends and discuss the key obstacles facing the exhibition industry in today's economy. Discover how to prove ROI by:
• Bringing true accountability and justification to your trade show and events program
• Identifying strengths and weaknesses to maximize exhibit performance
• Reviewing case studies to see how others are proving value in this economy
WHEN: November 12, 2009, 11 am – 1 pm
WHERE:
The Exhibitor's Training Center
Turnpike Business Park
7100 N. Broadway, Bldg. 3-G
Denver, CO 80221 (map)

MORE INFORMATION: (303) 430-1986 or. http://www.bluegooseinc.net/exhibitors-training/upcoming-program.html

About Exhibit Surveys, Inc.
Established in 1963, Exhibit Surveys, Inc. specializes exclusively in conducting market research and measurement for the exhibition and event marketing industry. The company has conducted primary research on more than 3,000 exhibitions and events and over 10,000 individual exhibits in all major segments of commerce on six continents. Its clients represent all segments of the event industry, including exhibition organizers, exhibitors, private events organizers, suppliers, CVBs and convention facilities. For more information, visit www.exhibitsurveys.com or call 1.732.741.3170.

About Blue Goose Inc.
Blue Goose Inc. takes your business seriously – as well as your smile. With expertise in award-winning booth design, refurbishment, and logistics management, Blue Goose provides the right booth for your objectives and budget.

The Exhibitor's Training Center is a not-for-profit organization sponsored by Blue Goose, Inc. with the purpose of further educating those in the exhibit and event industry in the 'tricks of the trade.' Monthly training programs are held to help attendees make the most of their company's marketing efforts. Instructors who possess first-hand knowledge and experience with their respective topics are provided at no cost.

Sign up for the informative monthly e-newsletter and learn more about Blue Goose Inc. at www.bluegooseinc.com.

###

— WebWireID107083 —

The Scout variant will give British troops a much-needed replacement for the ageing CVR(T) Scimitar, with greatly improved protection, firepower and reconnaissance abilities. The UK Ministry of Defence has said it will select a winner in the first quarter of 2010.

The BAE Systems contender for all the variants is based on the latest version of its proven CV90 chassis, sold to six countries and recognised as the best combat vehicle in its class. For the vital Scout role, the chassis has been shortened and given a lower profile.

The company plans to minimise costs, meet the tight delivery schedule and align with the UK Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFV) Strategy published in June by using a low-risk manufacturing approach proven with all five CV90 export customers.

'We will use a tried and tested model to ensure the UK MoD has access to the information it needs to ensure operational sovereignty,' says campaign director Arne Berglund.

The chassis will be built at the company's existing production line at Örnsköldsvik in Sweden.

The Scout turret and UK mission fit of all variants will be integrated onto the chassis in the UK, preserving jobs and the key skills necessary to continue to support British Army operations. BAE Systems has delivered well over 100 urgent operational requirements to modify vehicles in Iraq and Afghanistan, mostly to provide protection to crews against ever-changing threats.

The CV90 chassis has a mature supply chain, much of it already in the UK, and BAE Systems plans to increase UK content. The vehicle, turret technology and weapon system all have significant export potential.

Global Combat Systems managing director David Allott commented: 'We are reshaping our business in line with the Armoured Fighting Vehicles Strategy. We are cutting costs, building our systems engineering skills and creating a more agile organisation to deliver FRES and Warrior upgrade. Our aim is to ensure a healthy, sustainable business which can continue to support UK land forces in training and on military operations.'

The BAE Systems candidate vehicle takes advantage of the best technology available today.

'With each new customer, the vehicle has made a significant evolution to meet the changing face of warfare,' says Berglund. 'For instance, despite its relative light weight, our FRES candidate has mine protection comparable with main battle tanks weighing nearly twice as much. It has considerable growth potential, both physically and through its advanced electronic architecture.'

The open electronic architecture – essentially the vehicle's 'operating system' –will allow 'plug and play' upgrades to electronic systems, improve battlefield communications and have training and logistics benefits, particularly if it is rolled out across the Army's vehicle fleet.

BAE Systems has already spent more than £25m – not including the weapon system - on developing an all-new British-designed turret for the Scout variant. It features sophisticated sensor systems and a revolutionary 40mm cannon. The latter's ease of use, ability to fire on the move, versatility and much-increased punch means that it will give a major improvement over the 30mm Rarden gun used in Scimitar.

Its 40mm high explosive round has more than three times the explosive power of the 30mm Rarden, while its armour-piercing projectile will penetrate more than 140mm of steel armour.

The BAE Systems FRES demonstrator vehicle has already begun mobility trials at Millbrook proving ground and fired its weapon system at the Shoeburyness range. Its turret incorporates learning from two earlier designs.

BAE Systems will submit its bid for a linked Warrior upgrade programme on 18 November. It will feature a turret which has many similarities with its FRES offering, including the cannon, and the same electronic architecture.

— WebWireID107075 —

NEWTOWN, Pa.- The third Global Positioning System Block IIR (GPS IIR-3) satellite, designed and built by Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] to provide significantly improved navigation capabilities for military and civilian users worldwide, has reached 10 years of successful on-orbit operational service.

The satellite was launched on Oct. 7, 1999, and is one of 30 GPS spacecraft currently on-orbit, providing critical situational awareness and precision weapon guidance for the military. The constellation also supports a wide range of civil, scientific and commercial functions – including air traffic control, ATM banking, and the Internet.

As the prime contractor for the GPS IIR program, Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Newtown, Pa., designed and built 21 IIR spacecraft for the Global Positioning Systems Wing, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif. The final eight spacecraft, designated Block IIR-M, were modernized to enhance operations and navigation signal performance for military and civilian GPS users around the globe. The current fleet of Block IIR and IIR-M satellites within the overall GPS constellation has reached over 100 cumulative operational years on-orbit.

'This milestone is a testament to the outstanding efforts our industry-government team has dedicated to this critical program over the past decade,' said Don DeGryse, Lockheed Martin's vice president of Navigation Systems. 'We are incredibly pleased with this impressive record of performance and longevity as we continue our mission to provide superior capabilities to the warfighter as well as millions of civil users around the globe.'

The U.S. Air Force's next-generation GPS spacecraft, known as GPS III, being built by a Lockheed Martin-led team that includes industry partners ITT of Clifton, N.J. and General Dynamics of Gilbert, Ariz., is proceeding on-schedule in the Critical Design Review (CDR) phase of the program.

GPS III will improve position, navigation and timing services and provide advanced anti-jam capabilities yielding superior system security, accuracy and reliability. The next generation GPS IIIA satellites will deliver significant improvements over current GPS space vehicles, including a new international civil signal (L1C) and increased M-Code anti-jam power with full earth coverage for military users.

The team is in the process of executing 70 individual CDRs for all GPS III Space Vehicle subsystems, assemblies and elements.

The review phase will culminate in the third quarter of 2010 with a final Space Vehicle CDR that will validate the detailed GPS III design to ensure it meets warfighter and civil requirements. The team is on track to launch the first GPS IIIA satellite in 2014.

— WebWireID107069 —

Under an initial $9.9 million contract award, the company will produce a preliminary design for the Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program (SEWIP) Block 2 Upgrade by June 2010. The contract includes options, if exercised, totaling nearly $167 million.

Under SEWIP, the Navy is pursuing an evolutionary series of enhancements to its SLQ-32 EW system. This contract is part of a series of block upgrades intended to provide technological advances and add functional capabilities incrementally.

Lockheed Martin will provide a modular solution for Block 2, based on its Integrated Common Electronics Warfare System, demonstrated at sea last summer. This approach uses commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) electronics and provides the Navy with the latest surface ship EW capabilities, as well as enhanced flexibility to upgrade the technology to address emerging threats.

'This is a proven solution that will improve the surface navy's electronic warfare system,' said Carl Bannar, vice president and general manager of the Lockheed Martin Radar Systems business in Syracuse, N.Y. 'By choosing Lockheed Martin in this competition, the Navy has endorsed our technical approach, which includes COTS components for proven cost savings and ease of maintenance.'

— WebWireID107061 —

The Mercury Surface, Space Environment, Geochemistry and Ranging spacecraft, known as MESSENGER, flew by Mercury on Sept. 29. The probe completed a critical gravity assist to remain on course to enter into orbit around Mercury in 2011. Despite shutting down temporarily because of a power system switchover during a solar eclipse, the spacecraft's cameras and instruments collected high-resolution and color images unveiling another 6 percent of the planet's surface never before seen at close range.

Approximately 98 percent of Mercury's surface now has been imaged by NASA spacecraft. After MESSENGER goes into orbit around Mercury, it will see the polar regions, which are the only unobserved areas of the planet.

"Although the area viewed for the first time by spacecraft was less than 350 miles across at the equator, the new images reminded us that Mercury continues to hold surprises," said Sean Solomon, principal investigator for the mission and director of the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism at the Carnegie Institution of Washington.

Many new features were revealed during the third flyby, including a region with a bright area surrounding an irregular depression, suspected to be volcanic in origin. Other images revealed a double-ring impact basin approximately 180 miles across. The basin is similar to a feature scientists call the Raditladi basin, which was viewed during the probe's first flyby of Mercury in January 2008.

"This double-ring basin, seen in detail for the first time, is remarkably well preserved," said Brett Denevi, a member of the probe's imaging team and a postdoctoral researcher at Arizona State University in Tempe. "One similarity to Raditladi is its age, which has been estimated to be approximately one billion years old. Such an age is quite young for an impact basin, because most basins are about four times older. The inner floor of this basin is even younger than the basin itself and differs in color from its surroundings. We may have found the youngest volcanic material on Mercury."

One of the spacecraft's instruments conducted its most extensive observations to date of Mercury's exosphere, or thin atmosphere, during this encounter. The flyby allowed for the first detailed scans over Mercury's north and south poles. The probe also has begun to reveal how Mercury's atmosphere varies with its distance from the sun.

"A striking illustration of what we call 'seasonal' effects in Mercury's exosphere is that the neutral sodium tail, so prominent in the first two flybys, is 10 to 20 times less intense in emission and significantly reduced in extent," says participating scientist Ron Vervack, of the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, or APL, in Laurel, Md. "This difference is related to expected variations in solar radiation pressure as Mercury moves in its orbit and demonstrates why Mercury's exosphere is one of the most dynamic in the solar system."

The observations also show that calcium and magnesium exhibit different seasonal changes than sodium. Studying the seasonal changes in all exospheric constituents during the mission orbital phase will provide key information on the relative importance of the processes that generate, sustain, and modify Mercury's atmosphere.

The third flyby also revealed new information on the abundances of iron and titanium in Mercury's surface materials. Earlier Earth and spacecraft-based observations showed that Mercury's surface has a very low concentration of iron in silicate minerals, a result that led to the view that the planet's crust is generally low in iron.

"Now we know Mercury's surface has an average iron and titanium abundance that is higher than most of us expected, similar to some lunar mare basalts," says David Lawrence, an APL participating mission scientist.

The spacecraft has completed nearly three-quarters of its 4.9-billion-mile journey to enter orbit around Mercury. The full trip will include more than 15 trips around the sun. In addition to flying by Mercury, the spacecraft flew past Earth in August 2005 and Venus in October 2006 and June 2007.

The spacecraft was designed and built by APL. The mission is managed and operated by APL for NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington.

— WebWireID107057 —

The Preferred Supplier Program supports the company's philosophy of building a world-class supply chain that demonstrates excellence as the standard and continuous improvement as the culture. Each of the program's successive categories -- Silver, Gold or Platinum -- exhibits a more stringent level of performance excellence, and furthers the company's philosophy of doing business with the 'Best of the Best.'

'Evans Capacitor has been a Preferred Supplier since 2007,' said Teresa Scanlan, director of Risk Management and Technology Development at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. 'The company's consistent and excellent performance over the past two years has made them only the fourth supplier to achieve Platinum status out of 77 Preferred Suppliers.'

Evans Capacitor entered the Preferred Supplier Program at the Silver level. Since then, they have proven themselves to be a world-class supplier, ensuring 100 percent quality and on-time delivery. As a manufacturer of high density capacitors for defense and aerospace applications, Evans Capacitor is a strategic supplier that supports multiple programs in the Fire Control line of business at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. All of Evans Capacitor's products are designed and built in-house to rigorous standards of quality and performance.

Evans hybrid capacitors are used in phased array radar, laser targeting systems, avionics and other mission critical applications. Located in Rhode Island, Evans reported 2008 sales of over $10 million, and has delivered more than 1,300 components to Lockheed Martin this year. In addition to excellence in design and production, Evans employees adhere to Six Sigma principles.

Platinum Suppliers demonstrate superiority through their approach, deployment and results. Platinum-level companies must also show exceptionally well-defined and innovative systems that anticipate customer needs and have superior leadership recognized outside of their company. Additionally, Platinum Suppliers have pervasive and consistent performance across all major areas of both internal and external business, exceeding requirements and producing world-class results.

Earlier this year, Evans was also named a STAR Supplier with Lockheed Martin Electronic Systems business area, of which Missiles and Fire Control is a business unit.

'Evans Capacitor's commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction epitomizes the ideals of the Preferred Supplier Program,' Scanlan added.

— WebWireID107047 —

The primary test objective for the Ares I-X flight was to demonstrate command and control of this new vehicle design as well as effective vehicle integration, ground processing and launch operations that will be used for NASA's Ares I launch system. The flight test also demonstrated vehicle proof of concept and collected data on important flight performance in an actual launch environment that reduce risk early in the design of the Ares I program. Ares I will provide NASA with an even safer, more reliable and more affordable launch capability once the space shuttle is retired, that will take astronauts to the International Space Station and missions to the moon, Mars and other destinations in the solar system.

'What a tremendous accomplishment this flight test of the Ares I-X represents for NASA, the Constellation Program, America's space program and the entire team here at Lockheed Martin,' said John Karas, vice president and general manager of Human Space Flight for Lockheed Martin. 'The data indicate that our avionics and ground system performed outstanding throughout the launch and flight profile. NASA is well on its way to having Ares I ready to support Orion missions to the space station and human space exploration missions to a variety of destinations beyond low Earth orbit,' added Karas.

Lockheed Martin, with the support of its subcontractors, United Launch Alliance, Honeywell and United Space Alliance, developed the avionics and ground system for Ares I-X, providing all the command and control capability on the vehicle and its integration with Launch Complex 39B. The integrated systems also provided NASA with the ability to streamline launch operations and fly this new rocket from concept to launch in just over three years.

The Ares I-X avionics utilizes a fully integrated system of ground, airborne and software components. At the heart of the ground system is a modified version of the Atlas Ground Command, Communication and Control designed for Ares I-X. The modified system was developed and fabricated at Lockheed Martin Space Systems at its facilities near Denver, CO, and validated in the company's System Integration Lab prior to integration in the Ares I-X Mobile Launch Platform.

'When we powered on the vehicle at the launch site for the first time, everything looked exactly as we had simulated in the lab. It was great,' said Paul Sannes, Ares I-X avionics and ground system program manager for Lockheed Martin Space Systems. 'It was another straightforward step in the process and an example of how well our avionics and ground systems can be used to streamline operations, improve our launch efficiencies and meet our launch schedules. Throughout the flight test, we were right on the money for each of the mark events: ignition command; separation from the launch pad, roll control, algorithms for proper trajectory; separation commands. It was textbook perfect. At the end of the flight, there were a lot of cheers coming from the control center. We're very proud to be a part of this extraordinary NASA team,' added Sannes.

Lockheed Martin was selected to provide Avionics Integrator Services for the Ares I-X Development Flight Test under contract to Jacobs Technology's Engineering, Science, and Technical Services Group for NASA Marshall Space Flight Center. As the prime contractor to NASA for the Orion Project, Lockheed Martin also is responsible for designing and building a state-of-the-art crew transportation spacecraft that will provide more flexible space exploration and multi-mission capability than any previous human space flight vehicle ever developed. The Orion spacecraft will be the flagship of the Constellation Program's plan to return humans to the moon and prepare for future voyages to other destinations in our solar system.

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"Today is exceptionally historic because we are delivering A08-135 from the same Hangar 278 where Deeper Maintenance work on the first F-111 began 35 years ago," said John Duddy, vice president and managing director, Boeing Defence Australia. "We take pause to honor and recognize every RAAF serviceperson and Boeing employee who has contributed toward maintaining this platform. Because of you, the F-111 today remains the fastest and longest-ranging combat aircraft in the Asia-Pacific region."

The Deeper Maintenance program began in 1974 with the RAAF and transitioned to Boeing in 2001 for a total 500,000-plus work hours. The RAAF will retire the F-111 at the end of 2010 to make way for 24 replacement Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornets.

"The maintenance systems introduced with the F-111 aircraft have been a mainstay of defense and industry's high-tech support capabilities for well over 35 years," said Air Commodore Roy McPhail, Director General of Aerospace Combat Systems, RAAF. "Today's completion of the F-111 Deeper Maintenance program will ensure the F-111 fleet remains fully capable until the replacement F/A-18F Super Hornets come on line."

Boeing is contracted to perform light maintenance activities until the F-111 fleet's withdrawal from service.

"Although this is the end of Boeing's F-111 Deeper Maintenance activities, fortunately, it's not the end of a great partnership," said Group Capt. Peter Lloyd, Officer Commanding – 82 Wing, RAAF. "Boeing's technical and engineering expertise will remain fundamental to 82 Wing's ability to generate F-111 air combat power."

Deeper Maintenance was performed on F-111s after 525 hours of flight time. It included activities such as removal of wings, engines, the undercarriage and other major components for servicing and/or replacement as required.

Boeing Defence Australia, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company and a business unit of Boeing Integrated Defense Systems, is a leading Australian aerospace enterprise. With a world-class team of nearly 2,000 employees at 13 locations throughout Australia and two international sites, Boeing Defence Australia supports some of the largest and most complex defense projects in Australia.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is one of the world's largest space and defense businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world's largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $32 billion business with 70,000 employees worldwide.

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The new devices are part of the ICBM Cryptography Upgrade (ICU) program for ICBM missile wings at Air Force bases F.E. Warren in Wyoming, Malmstrom in Montana and Minot in North Dakota. Boeing designed, developed and delivered the replacement units and supporting technical data, trainers, support equipment, and code processing system modifications.

"Enabling the Air Force to install these units is a vital step as we work together to enhance the security of this important nuclear deterrent," said Peggy Morse, director of Boeing Strategic Missile Systems. "It's also one of the Air Force's main requirements for full operational capability of the ICU program."

ICU is one element of the ICBM Prime Integration Contract led by Northrop Grumman. The program sustains and modernizes the United States' Minuteman III weapon system, extending its service life well into the future.

Boeing has been a teammate on the Northrop Grumman-led ICBM Prime Team since 1998 and has played a key role in ICBM development, design, production and maintenance since Minuteman I was conceptualized in 1958.

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* Astrium to deliver the satellite communication system to the German navy's new F125 frigates

* Latest generation of SCOT 6 naval terminals to provide secure high bandwidth communications

The contract, which will be delivered by Astrium's Secure Satcom Systems Division, will provide the F125 with the capability to conduct operations on a global scale by providing secure high bandwidth communications over Germany's forthcoming SATCOM BW2 and other allied networks.

The latest generation of the SCOT family of naval terminals, the SCOT 6 system, provides unparalleled flexibility for the F125 and is capable of operations at SHF (X-Band) with dual X-Ku band growth options.

Logistics support for the F125's planned two year deployments has been simplified by providing a high level of in-built redundancy which reduces on-board spares requirements. Combined with advanced user interfaces, this minimises maintenance and training requirements, reducing through life costs. The Astrium partnership with ATLAS ELEKTRONIK ensures that the F125 will have an unsurpassed level of support through its service life, allowing the F125 to meet its planned operational demands

The contract, awarded in September 2009, maintains Astrium's position as the leading supplier of wideband satcom terminals to the world's navies, and continues its longstanding relationship with both the German shipbuilding industry and the German navy. The SCOT 6 system builds on over 35 years designing and manufacturing naval satcom terminals proven to operate in the harshest environments.

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All U.S. Navy submarines will be equipped with this capability, which will allow communication between underwater submarines and surface ships, aircraft and land-based assets.

Under the program, Lockheed Martin will deliver three types of two-way communications buoys and associated submarine and shore equipment. Two tethered expendable communications buoy systems – for Iridium satellite and UHF communications – will be launched from submarines. The third is an Acoustic-to-RF Gateway system that can be launched from submarines and aircraft.

Following the successful PDR, the Lockheed Martin team will move into the Critical Design Review (CDR) phase, a vital milestone that must be achieved before hardware manufacturing begins. During the CDR, detailed components and subsystems of the design are assessed to ensure the overall system will meet all U.S. Navy requirements with reliable performance.

Since the January 2009 contract award, the Lockheed Martin-led team has successfully completed an integrated baseline review and system requirements review. 'The team has made significant progress to date and is on schedule,' said Brent Starr, the Navy's CSD Principal Acquisition Program Manager. 'Once fully developed, this capability will be a key contributor to enhance information superiority for the warfighter.'

The Lockheed Martin-led CSD team includes Ultra Electronics Ocean Systems and ERAPSCO, a joint venture between USSI, Inc. and Sparton Corporation.

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"Physicists would like to replace Einstein's vision of gravity -- as expressed in his relativity theories -- with something that handles all fundamental forces," said Peter Michelson, principal investigator of Fermi's Large Area Telescope, or LAT, at Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif. "There are many ideas, but few ways to test them."

Many approaches to new theories of gravity picture space-time as having a shifting, frothy structure at physical scales trillions of times smaller than an electron. Some models predict that the foamy aspect of space-time will cause higher-energy gamma rays to move slightly more slowly than photons at lower energy.

Such a model would violate Einstein's edict that all electromagnetic radiation -- radio waves, infrared, visible light, X-rays and gamma rays -- travels through a vacuum at the same speed.

On May 10, 2009, Fermi and other satellites detected a so-called short gamma ray burst, designated GRB 090510. Astronomers think this type of explosion happens when neutron stars collide. Ground-based studies show the event took place in a galaxy 7.3 billion light-years away. Of the many gamma ray photons Fermi's LAT detected from the 2.1-second burst, two possessed energies differing by a million times. Yet after traveling some seven billion years, the pair arrived just nine-tenths of a second apart.

"This measurement eliminates any approach to a new theory of gravity that predicts a strong energy dependent change in the speed of light," Michelson said. "To one part in 100 million billion, these two photons traveled at the same speed. Einstein still rules."

Fermi's secondary instrument, the Gamma ray Burst Monitor, has observed low-energy gamma rays from more than 250 bursts. The LAT observed 12 of these bursts at higher energy, revealing three record setting blasts.

GRB 090510 displayed the fastest observed motions, with ejected matter moving at 99.99995 percent of light speed. The highest energy gamma ray yet seen from a burst -- 33.4 billion electron volts or about 13 billion times the energy of visible light -- came from September's GRB 090902B. Last year's GRB 080916C produced the greatest total energy, equivalent to 9,000 typical supernovae.

Scanning the entire sky every three hours, the LAT is giving Fermi scientists an increasingly detailed look at the extreme universe. "We've discovered more than a thousand persistent gamma ray sources -- five times the number previously known," said project scientist Julie McEnery at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. "And we've associated nearly half of them with objects known at other wavelengths."

Blazars -- distant galaxies whose massive black holes emit fast-moving jets of matter toward us -- are by far the most prevalent source, now numbering more than 500. In our own galaxy, gamma ray sources include 46 pulsars and two binary systems where a neutron star rapidly orbits a hot, young star.

"The Fermi team did a great job commissioning the spacecraft and starting its science observations," said Jon Morse, Astrophysics Division director at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "And now Fermi is more than fulfilling its unique scientific promise for making novel, high-impact discoveries about the extreme universe and the fabric of space-time."‪

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