AeroAstro and van Kempen Engineering & Consultancy BV
Sign Teaming Agreement for Development of
Remote Sensing Ground Stations

Ashburn, VA and Tilburg, the Netherlands – May 2, 2003

AeroAstro, Inc., a leading small satellite technology company, and van Kempen Engineering & Consultancy BV (KEC), a small business engaged in providing services to the international high-tech sector, have signed a teaming agreement for the development of ground stations in support of microsatellite Earth observing systems. This agreement adds an important capability to the AeroAstro-led “Observatory Team,” providing customers with cost-effective turn-key solutions for Earth remote sensing.

Since its inception in 1988, AeroAstro has been a leading developer and proponent of small, low-cost spacecraft. As component size, mass, power and cost continue to shrink, AeroAstro has pioneered new small satellite applications in astrophysics, communications, remote sensing, and technology development and verification.

Founded in 1995, van Kempen Engineering & Consultancy BV (KEC) has demonstrated its ability to create highly innovative and capable ground systems for the telemetry, command, and data reception and processing of Earth observation data from electro-optical and synthetic aperture radar satellites. KEC also has contributed to the integration of space-based products and services in the daily business processes of end-user organisations.

As microspace system capabilities improve and mature, the applications for such systems continue to grow, and the KEC/AeroAstro team is responding to the needs and opportunities of the market. By combining their expertise with other acknowledged industry leaders, the integrated team offers complete space mission solutions – from system architecture through launch and delivery of Earth imagery to the end-user.

Each critical mission element is developed from the ground up to work together, providing the customers with modern, cost-effective solutions in the spacecraft, instruments, and ground operations for Earth observing missions.

Ir. Paul van Kempen, founder and General Manager of van Kempen Engineering & Consultancy BV, noted, “By forging a close working relationship, AeroAstro and the Observatory team can now provide the ground systems that enable end-to-end on-orbit solutions for space-based remote sensing. Our close partnership with the Dutch National Aerospace Laboratory (NLR) and leading value adding industries and the Dutch experience with the Real-time Acquisition and Processing Integrated Data System (RAPIDS) ground station uniquely positioned KEC to support the Observatory team in providing a completely integrated solution, offering exceptional performance, price competitiveness, and product reliability.”

Dr. Rick Fleeter, CEO of AeroAstro, said, “The inclusion of KEC on the Observatory team adds significantly to our capability to provide customers seeking quality regional remote sensing capabilities with turn-key small satellite systems for electro-optical Earth observation. KEC, like AeroAstro, has the expertise and proven experience to bring the benefits of space to an increasingly diverse user community. As these new participants bring their needs to space, they will spur development of new, advanced space systems capabilities and architectures. KEC offers a unique small system approach to the ground segment, adding to AeroAstro’s micro and nano spacecraft capabilities, thus better positioning the Observatory Team to work with users in pioneering the next generation of single and multiple spacecraft missions.”

About AeroAstro:
AeroAstro, a pioneer of micro and nano spacecraft applications in science, remote sensing, and communications, is a leader in innovative small satellite applications that open the space frontier to a larger and more varied constituency. It led the trend towards smaller, faster, better, and cheaper spacecraft with its highly successful ALEXIS satellite begun in 1988 and currently in its ninth year operating on-orbit. AeroAstro is now leading the way to a new age of commercial space with flexible tools that enable users to benefit from unprecedented access to space technology. AeroAstro has designed, constructed, tested and supported the launch of small satellites for universities, NASA, and the DoD. AeroAstro manufactures low-cost satellite systems and components, used in its own spacecraft and for spacecraft development in the US and abroad.

About van Kempen Engineering & Consultancy BV:
Since 1995 van Kempen Engineering & Consultancy BV (KEC) provides high quality services in the field of management, business development and systems engineering. KEC specialized in supporting both user organisations and suppliers of high-tech products and services, for space, aeronautics and defence applications. In 1997 a Dutch consortium managed by KEC received an award from ESA for valuable European contribution to space station. Through its expertise of both the supply and demand side, KEC developed a strategy for its own product range providing affordable solutions for exploiting the Earth observation space infrastructure. KEC’s product range covers affordable, compact ground stations, including downstream products and services that provide an integrated solution to end-user organisations.

For more information about KEC, call Paul van Kempen at +31(13) 4 55 00 44; visit www.kec.nl; write van Kempen Engineering & Consultancy BV at P.O. Box 2226, 5001 CE Tilburg, The Netherlands; or email info@kec.nl.