Aurora Acquires Payload Systems

(Cambridge, Mass., October 29, 20007)--Aurora Flight Sciences Corporation announced today that it has acquired Payload Systems, Inc. of Cambridge, MA effective October 26, 2007.

Payload Systems was founded in 1984 with a mission to provide science and engineering services for spaceflight and terrestrial applications. The company has been involved in the successful flight of over 28 space missions. Among these is a miniature constellation of free-flying satellites known as SPHERES, which Payload Systems built for MIT and which is currently deployed aboard the International Space Station. Payload Systems' extensive experience with NASA integration, safety, certification and acceptance procedures has given the company a proud record of accomplishment. "The development and integration of advanced sensors, and the processing and exploitation of data from those sensors, are key to the future of unmanned vehicles," said Aurora President John Langford. "This is true whether they operate in the atmosphere or in space. Payload Systems is a perfect complement to Aurora's existing strength in robotics vehicles."

Aurora currently operates four business sectors focusing on Tactical Systems, Science Applications, Advanced Concepts, and Aerostructures. Among the company's signature programs are GoldenEye, a vertical takeoff and landing UAV being developed for DARPA; MarsFlyer, a rocket-powered planetary UAV developed for NASA; and Global Hawk, a Northrop Grumman UAV for which Aurora manufactures major portions of the airframe. Payload Systems will be merged with Science Applications and operated under the sector name of Payload Systems. Payload System Inc.'s CEO, Dr. Javier de Luis, will become Chief Scientist at Aurora. Payload Systems Inc.'s President, Joe Parrish, will become the Aurora Vice President of Payload Systems.

Aurora is headquartered in Manassas, VA near Washington, DC. The company operates production plants in West Virginia and Mississippi. In 2006 the company opened their Research and Development Center in Cambridge, MA. "The addition of Payload Systems to our R&D Center will dramatically strengthen our team," said Langford. "Payload Systems has extremely strong ties with MIT, which is a key objective of our R&D Center."

Source : Aurora Flight Sciences Corp.

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