1st Detect Awarded GSA Status Through Partnership with Government Scientific Source Inc.

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

1^st Detect, which was formed by Astrotech ASTC to develop and commercialize technology originally created under an agreement with NASA for use on the International Space Station, today announced that their miniaturized mass spectrometer is now available to be sold through the General Services Administration (GSA) contract process through Government Scientific Source, Inc. (GSS).

1^st Detect has entered into an agreement whereby Government Scientific Source, a privately-held veteran and minority owned organization, has become a distributor of 1^st Detect products to federal, state, and municipal government customers in the U.S. This agreement is intended to facilitate and accelerate the procurement process by using the GSA, "Schedule 66 - Scientific Equipment and Services" contract to sell 1^st Detect products through this one-stop, non-competitive shopping process available to U.S. government agencies that are purchasing laboratory and homeland security-related instruments.

The GSA establishes long-term, government-wide contracts with commercial vendors in order to streamline and standardize the process of procuring products and services for the federal government. The GSA is one of the U.S. government's primary acquisition vehicles, procuring approximately $50 billion a year.

"This GSA purchasing vehicle has already proven beneficial for us as we have recently made sales using this process," said Bob Kibler, CEO of 1^st Detect. "Very quickly, we have been able to expand our accessibility and ease of procurement to Federal and State customers without the necessity of adding additional sales resources."

1^st Detect Corporation has developed an instrument that revolutionizes the chemical detection and analysis market by delivering laboratory performance mass spectrometry in a small, affordable and portable package. This versatile product has the flexibility to be adapted to each environment, and factory models are designed to communicate with standard Factory Management Software for easy implementation. The 1^st Detect mass spectrometer utilizes core technology that is fast, highly sensitive and accurate. The unit is capable of detecting a wide variety of chemicals including residues and vapors from explosives, chemical warfare agents, toxic chemicals, food and beverage contaminants, and pollutants. These capabilities, combined in an economically priced solution, make it an ideal tool for a variety of applications in the research, security, industrial, process flow and healthcare markets.

About Government Scientific Source

Government Scientific Source is the leading supplier of analytical chemistry equipment and consumables to federal, state, and municipal government laboratories.

About 1^st Detect Corporation

1^st Detect Corporation was formed by Astrotech Corporation ASTC to develop and commercialize miniature mass spectrometry technology first developed under an agreement with NASA for use on the International Space Station. 1^st Detect offers a breakthrough miniaturized mass spectrometer that fills an unmet need by being highly accurate, rapid, lightweight, and cost-effective. For more information on 1^st Detect Corporation, please visit www.1stDetect.com.

About Astrotech Corporation

Astrotech is a leader in identifying and commercializing space technology for terrestrial use. 1^st Detect Corporation is developing what we believe is a breakthrough miniaturized mass spectrometer, the MMS-1000™, while Astrogenetix, Inc. is a biotechnology company utilizing microgravity as a research platform for drug discovery and development. Both are wholly owned subsidiaries of the parent.

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, trends, and uncertainties that could cause actual results to be materially different from the forward-looking statement. These factors include, but are not limited to, continued government support and funding for key space programs, product performance and market acceptance of products and services, as well as other risk factors and business considerations described in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings including the annual report on Form 10-K. Any forward-looking statements in this document should be evaluated in light of these important risk factors. The Company assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements.