March 14, 2008 — Space Micro Inc. has been awarded a Phase I SBIR Contract from the US Air Force, AFRL, for research and development of a novel miniaturized space weather instrument.

David J. Bozek, VP of the space electronics division, says that “Space Micro has teamed
with the US Air Force Academy (USAFA) in Colorado Springs, CO, to develop a MEMS-based miniature instrument with supporting electronics. The plan is to productize this technology and provide satellite designers with a device that offers a sensing capability that is equal to or better than current products on the market, but in a smaller package and at a lower price point.”

“Our approach to meeting Air Force needs is to highly leverage commercial off-the-shelf COTS technologies, including commercially available MEMS foundries,” says David J. Strobel, president and CEO at Space Micro. “Phase I is on track to be completed in late 2008, which will validate the lab feasibility of this concept to monitor aspects of space weather.”