WASHINGTON, July 20, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- E'Prime Aerospace Corporation (OTCBB:EPEA) (EPAC), a specialist in aerospace system development, announced today that it has submitted a response to NASA's request for concepts, technical approaches, statement of work, and costs associated with the President's stated objective of inhabiting the moon by 2015 and sending exploration missions to Mars by 2020.
In this ambitious project, E'Prime will team with the Savannah River National Laboratory, which, in turn will use the support from the Y-12 National Security Complex, Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Florida, and the University of South Carolina.
"The prospect of deep space exploration brings new challenges and opportunities for the United States, and E'Prime is eager to participate in this endeavor," said Bob Davis, E'Prime Chairman and CEO.
"EPAC and the Savannah River National Laboratory are poised to develop and deliver a safe, reliable, sustainable, affordable and flexible approach to inhabit the moon and explore Mars and beyond," said Davis. "We have proposed a `System of Systems' concept that involves fundamentally sound subsystems -- each of which is built on existing baseline materials, design and manufacturing methods."
The basic components of E'Prime's "System of Systems" are as follows:
- Space Plane -- The space plane is a lifting body flight vehicle
with a composite wound structure.
- Nuclear Propulsion System -- The Nuclear Propulsion System features
a redesigned thermo nuclear propulsion system suitable for long
transit times.
- Modular Expendable Launch Vehicle -- The Modular Expendable Launch
Vehicle serves as EPAC's Eagle Series of launch vehicles. "After
discussions with Boeing and Arianespace, E'Prime will initially
provide launch services using the Delta II and Ariane 5, in
conjunction with the Eagle Series," said Davis. "E'Prime looks
forward to this relationship which promotes the program's use of
both domestic and international participation."
- Mobile Ocean Systems/Launch Platform - The Mobile Ocean
Systems/Launch Platform, a mobile sea-based platform, is designed
specifically for launches from remote locations on the open sea.
- Unified Space Transfer Module - The Unified Space Transfer Module
is a derivative base line technology of the Apollo LEM, with a
major design enhancement, and will provide lunar-surface-to-lunar-
orbit transportation.
"We believe our proposal offers NASA the safest, most cost-effective and most reliable method to inhabit the moon and explore deep space," Davis continued. "We will utilize the best technologies available and will work with our partners to improve the performance and reliability of these proven technologies and enhance overall operational safety and efficiency."
About E'Prime Aerospace Corporation (EPAC)
E'Prime Aerospace Corporation (EPAC), established in 1987, will provide commercial launch services for satellite companies or national launches. For additional information, visit www.eprimeaerospace.com.