EAGLEPICHER HELPS POWER MARS MISSION
JOPLIN, Missouri, February 12, 2004 - Products from EaglePicher Technologies, LLC played an integral role in powering NASA's Mars mission. The Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity used EaglePicher Technologies (EPT) thermal batteries to successfully assist in the critical entry, descent and landing sequences on Mars.
Each Rover had two thermal batteries manufactured at EPT's Joplin, Missouri facility, located on the back shell to provide high-current bursts for firing several pyros (firing mechanisms). These pyros enabled parachute deployment, heat shield release, TIRS (Transfer Impulse Reaction System) and RAD (Rocket Assisted Descent) rocket firing.
The batteries made the long trip to Mars in an inactive state. Upon entering the Mars atmosphere, a high-current pulse activated the batteries by generating a high temperature that melted electrolyte pellets and thus provided ionic contact between electrodes within the battery.
Even though the operating life after activation is fairly short, the thermal batteries are designed to provide extremely high power over a short period of time, making them ideal for the Mars Rovers. EaglePicher made similar batteries for NASA's earlier missions, Mars Pathfinder and Mars Odyssey.
The thermal batteries for Mars Exploration Rovers were designed and fabricated by EaglePicher Technologies, LLC, under the cognizance of battery and mission assurance engineers from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
For further information on EaglePicher products, access www.eaglepicher.com.
EaglePicher Technologies, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of EaglePicher Incorporated, has facilities in Arizona, Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas and Canada. The operating group develops and markets advanced high-reliability power systems and associated electronics for government, space and commercial applications. It also processes Boron isotopes, anticancer pharmaceutical ingredients and ultra clean scientific containers. Areas of global focus include telecommunications, medical, nuclear power plants, space, defense, environmental, semiconductors and pharmaceutical/biotech. Additional information is available on the Internet at www.eaglepicher.com.
EaglePicher Incorporated, founded in 1843 and headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, is a diversified manufacturer and marketer of innovative, advanced technology and industrial products and services for space, defense, environmental, automotive, medical, filtration, pharmaceutical, nuclear power, semiconductor and commercial applications worldwide. The company has 4,000 employees and operates more than 30 plants in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the U.K. and Germany. Additional information on the company is available on the Internet at www.eaglepicher.com.
This release contains statements which, to the extent that they are not recitations of historical fact, constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These include any statements about future business operations, financial performance or market conditions. Such forward-looking information involves risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties are discussed in Eagle-Picher Holding's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
EaglePicher™ is a trademark of EaglePicher Incorporated.
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