Full Press Release Details
1ST DETECT AWARDED $735,000 PHASE II SBIR CONTRACT FROM THE JOINT SCIENCE
TECHNOLOGY OFFICE FOR CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL DEFENSE
1st Detect to Develop a Pre-concentrator for Chemical Detection Improvements
Texas, Sept. 14, 2010 1st Detect Corporation, a subsidiary of Astrotech
Corporation (Nasdaq: ASTC), announced today that the Joint Science and Technology Office for
Chemical and Biological Defense (Ft. Belvoir, VA), in conjunction with U.S. Army Dugway Proving
Ground (Dugway, UT) has awarded a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II contract to
the Company to design and develop a novel sample inlet system intended to significantly improve the
sensitivity of mass spectrometers used for chemical detection in the field. This contract follows
1st Detect s successful execution of a Phase I SBIR that was awarded in May 2009.
This award recognizes the achievements we ve made developing advancements in chemical detection
technology, designed to enhance the U.S. Military s capability to better detect chemical warfare
threats, said John Porter, Chief Executive Officer for the Company.
The Phase II award enables the company to transition its proof of concept pre-concentrator into a
field-testable prototype, and opens up significant potential markets beyond chemical and biological
defense. The $735,000 award will be used to further develop 1st Detect s
pre-concentrator inlet designed to provide a fast response time along with significantly increased
chemical detection sensitivity.
The pre-concentrator will be integrated into 1st Detect s Miniature Chemical Detector, a
portable, handheld mass spectrometer. The device, originally created to sample the air quality on
the International Space Station, detects residues and vapors from a wide range of toxins, organic
compounds, and explosives. This technology is being marketed to the military, security, industrial
and healthcare markets and was designated as CBRNe World s Editor s Choice at the prestigious
Pittcon 2010 Conference.
1st Detect is proud to continue our work with DoD s Joint Chemical and Biological Defense Program
and the U.S. Army s Dugway Proving Ground in the development of this innovative detection
technology, added David Rafferty, President and Chief
Technology Officer for 1st
A key objective of the Chemical and Biological Defense Small Business Innovation Research Program
is to permit small businesses to conduct research and development, and subsequently transition
innovative technologies between the Department of Defense and the private sector for mutual
benefit. The program targets those technology efforts that maximize a strong defensive posture in a
biological or chemical environment using passive and active means as deterrents.
About 1st Detect Corporation
1st Detect Corporation was formed by Astrotech Corporation (Nasdaq: ASTC) to develop and
commercialize miniature-mass spectrometer technology first developed for the International Space
Station (ISS). 1st Detect offers the Miniature Chemical Detector, a breakthrough device in mass spectrometry that fills a
niche by being highly accurate, lightweight, battery-powered, durable and inexpensive. The
1st Detect Miniature Chemical Detector is capable of detecting residues and vapors from
explosives, chemical warfare agents, toxic chemicals, food and beverage contamination, illicit
drugs and pollution. It is sensitive, accurate, and fast which provides orders of magnitude better
informing power than competing products. For more information about 1st Detect, please
see our website at www.1stDetect.com
About Astrotech Corporation
Astrotech is one of the first space commerce companies and remains a strong entrepreneurial force
in the aerospace industry. We are leaders in identifying, developing and marketing space
technology for commercial use. Our Astrotech Space Operations (ASO) business unit serves our
government and commercial satellite and spacecraft customers with pre-launch services on the
eastern and western range. 1st Detect Corporation is developing what we believe is a breakthrough
miniature chemical detector, while Astrogenetix, Inc. is a biotechnology company utilizing
microgravity as a research platform for drug discovery and development.
This press release contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the Safe Harbor
provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements
are subject to risks, trends, and uncertainties that could cause actual results to be materially
different from the forward-looking statement. These factors include, but are not limited to,
continued government support and funding for key space programs, the ability to expand ASO, product
performance and market acceptance of products and services, as well as other risk factors and
business considerations described in the Company s Securities and Exchange Commission filings
including the annual report on Form 10-K. Any forward-looking statements in this document should be
evaluated in light of these important risk factors. The Company assumes no obligation to update
these forward-looking statements.
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