Curtiss-Wright Selected by Rocket Lab to Provide Data Acquisition Systems for the Electron Launch Vehicle

Curtiss-Wright Selected by Rocket Lab to Provide Data Acquisition Systems for the Electron Launch Vehicle
Curtiss-Wright Selected by Rocket Lab to Provide Data Acquisition Systems for the Electron Launch Vehicle
Press release
April 11, 2016

Curtiss-Wright Selected by Rocket Lab to Provide Data Acquisition Systems for the Electron Launch Vehicle

For rugged, modular space COTS Acra KAM-500 data acquisition unit

32ND SPACE SYMPOSIUM, COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO.  (BOOTH #1101) – APRIL 11, 2016 – Curtiss-Wright’s Defense Solutions division today announced that it was selected by Rocket Lab to provide its rugged, modular Data Acquisition Unit (DAU) technology for use on the Electron launch vehicle. Under the contract, Curtiss-Wright will supply Rocket Lab with its Space COTS Acra KAM-500 DAU products. The DAU will acquire data from various analog and digital sensors onboard the Electron, Rocket Lab’s dedicated vehicle for launching small satellites and other payloads to Low Earth Orbit. Under the initial contract, which covers the first batch of Electron launchers, DAU deliveries will begin in May 2016 and continue through May 2017.  

“Curtiss-Wright is excited to have been selected by Rocket Lab to provide our industry-leading space-qualified data acquisition technology for use on the Electron launch vehicle,” said Lynn Bamford, Senior Vice President, and General Manager, Defense Solutions division. “With our long legacy of innovation in aviation and aerospace, reaching back to founders Glenn Curtiss and the Wright brothers, Curtiss-Wright is very proud to contribute to Rocket Lab’s historic efforts to make Low Earth Orbit accessible by providing high-frequency, dedicated launch.”

About the Space COTS KAM-500

The KAM-500 is a rugged, modular data acquisition solution that is made affordable by leveraging an extensive library of IP, built over decades of design for the space and flight test instrumentation markets. Used in numerous space applications, including aboard the International Space Station and the European Space Agency’s IXV launch vehicle, Curtiss-Wright’s Space COTS KAM-500 DAU is designed to meet Space Product Assurance standards. The KAM-500 rugged chassis features a standard backplane that accepts over 100+ user-selected modules. This highly configurable system enables fully customized systems to be built using affordable COTS products. Due to a combination of its reliability in harsh environments, modularity, and scalability, the KAM-500 offers a very low cost of ownership. 

About the Electron Launch Vehicle

Rocket Lab’s two-stage Electron vehicle is a dedicated launch service for small satellites to Low Earth Orbit. Its innovative design uses advanced carbon composites for a strong and lightweight flight structure. The Electron vehicle is powered by the Rutherford liquid engine, an entirely new electric propulsion cycle, that uses electric motors to drive its turbo-pumps. It is the first oxygen/hydrocarbon engine to use 3D printing for all primary components. Rocket Lab is currently constructing an orbital launch site on New Zealand’s Mahia Peninsula in preparation for test flights of Electron. When the site is completed, Rocket Lab will be the first commercial company to build and operate an orbital range.

An Industry Leader in Bringing COTS to Space Applications

Curtiss-Wright is a leader in bringing the benefits of COTS products to the space industry. Space COTS electronics can significantly reduce cost, development time, and risk through the use of an extensive library of intellectual property and decades of rugged system design experience. Curtiss-Wright has experience on a wide range of missions and with leading space organizations and companies around the world, including Boeing, SpaceX, NASA, ESA, Scaled Composites, ULA, Airbus DS, Thales Alenia Space, and the Sierra Nevada. Based on open architecture modular COTS hardware, Curtiss-Wright’s Acra KAM-500 has a long heritage in space applications including experimental aircraft, launchers, re-entry vehicles, and orbital platforms. 

Curtiss-Wright manufactures the products covered by this agreement at its Acra facility in Dublin, Ireland. The products will be shipped to Rocket Lab in New Zealand.

 

About Curtiss-Wright Corporation

Curtiss-Wright Corporation 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 8,400 people worldwide.  For more information, visit www.curtisswright.com.

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Note: Trademarks are property of their respective owners.

This press release contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements, including statements relating to Curtiss-Wright’s expectations of future performance of this space industry contract, the continued relationship with a customer, the continued success of this space industry program and the future opportunities associated with this space industry program, are not considered historical facts and are considered forward-looking statements under the federal securities laws. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: a reduction in anticipated orders; an economic downturn; changes in competitive marketplace and/or customer requirements; a change in US and Foreign government spending; an inability to perform customer contracts at anticipated cost levels; and other factors that generally affect the business of aerospace, defense contracting, marine, electronics and industrial companies. Please refer to the Company's current SEC filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for further information.