Curtiss-Wright Applauds the European Space Agency on the First Launch and Retrieval of the IXV Spacecraft

Curtiss-Wright Applauds the European Space Agency on the First Launch and Retrieval of the IXV Spacecraft
Curtiss-Wright Applauds the European Space Agency on the First Launch and Retrieval of the IXV Spacecraft
Press release
February 11, 2015

Curtiss-Wright Applauds the European Space Agency on the First Launch and Retrieval of the IXV Spacecraft

The Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle (IXV) features two Curtiss-Wright subsystems for data handling and telemetry

ASHBURN, Va. - February 11, 2015 - Curtiss-Wright Corporation's (NYSE: CW) Defense Solutions division extends its congratulations to the European Space Agency (ESA) on today's historic first launch and retrieval of the Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle (IXV), its experimental re-entry vehicle. In order to test re-entry technologies for future spacecraft, the IXV was launched into a suborbital path by a Vega rocket from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.

Curtiss-Wright, as a valued partner to Alenia Aermacchi S.p.A on the IXV program for over five years supplied the IXV program with its rugged data handling and telemetry subsystem technology. Curtiss-Wright's Dublin-based operation provided data acquisition, networking and recording subsystems that were installed on the IXV spacecraft to acquire sensor data throughout the duration of the mission. 

"We congratulate the European Space Agency on the achievement of this important milestone in the development of future re-usable spacecraft," said Lynn Bamford, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Defense Solutions. "The IXV mission represents a significant presence in space vehicle programs for Curtiss-Wright, and we are proud to partner with the ESA to provide the rugged avionics subsystems on its historic mission."

The IXV program is the 'intermediate' segment of the ESA's requirement to develop and flight test the technologies and critical systems required to autonomously return future missions from low earth orbit.

Curtiss-Wright, with support from Enterprise Ireland, develops and manufactures the data handling and telemetry units for the IXV at its facilities in Dublin, Ireland.

 

About Curtiss-Wright Corporation

Curtiss-Wright Corporation (NYSE: CW) is a global innovative company that delivers highly engineered, critical function products and services to the commercial, industrial, defense and energy markets.  Building on the heritage of Glenn Curtiss and the Wright brothers, Curtiss-Wright has a long tradition of providing reliable solutions through trusted customer relationships. The company employs approximately 10,000 people worldwide.  For more information, visit www.curtisswright.com.

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John Wranovics

John Wranovics

Director of Public Relations

John Wranovics has over thirty years of experience in managing media relations and the promotion of high technology products. He has been with Curtiss-Wright since 2003. He has a degree in English Literature from the University of California, Berkeley.