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Program Will Benefit Swales Aerospace in Beltsville
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Monday, March 20, 2006
BELTSVILLE, MD - Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD) today visited Swales Aerospace in Beltsville to announce $39 million for satellite research.
Hoyer recently helped secure funds for Operationally Responsive Satellites (ORS), a competitive program to develop and deploy an operational system capable of rapidly protecting and reconstituting critical US space assets “on demand.”
Current national security space programs provide unique, usually single mission capabilities (early warning, weather, intelligence) and are not designed to execute multiple/responsive missions. A successful demonstration of the ORS Program will enable the opportunity to develop and deploy an operational system capable of rapidly protecting and reconstituting critical US space assets “on demand.”
Funding for ORS will accelerate this critical technology development and could provide a first launch capability in as early as 24 months.
“This program is not only important to our state’s economy, but it will further enhance our military capabilities, and thereby contribute to our national security,” said Hoyer.
Hoyer toured Swales Aerospace’s Beltsville facility and saw first hand a production line of satellites set to be launched this fall.
Hoyer observed NASA’s Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions (THEMIS) Spacecraft Program, for which Swales is the prime contractor of satellites. The mission of THEMIS is to determine the cause of global reconfigurations of the Earth’s magnetosphere.
“Swales Aerospace has a 27-year heritage of unparalleled performance as a non-traditional military and intelligence systems provider headquartered right here in Prince George’s County,” Hoyer said. “Their work continues to play a critical role in helping the United States Military fight the global war on terror.”
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