EMCORE Awarded Solar Panel Manufacturing Contract by ATK for NASA's InSight Mars Lander Mission

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Feb. 26, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EMCORE Corporation EMKR, a leading provider of compound semiconductor-based components and subsystems for the fiber optics and space solar power markets, announced today that it has been awarded a contract by ATK ATK to design and manufacture solar panels for NASA's InSight Mars Lander. The mission, managed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), is planned for launch in March of 2016. 

Solar panels populated with EMCORE's most advanced ZTJ triple-junction solar cells will power the InSight spacecraft which will be built and operated by Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company in Denver. ATK will integrate EMCORE's solar panels into its heritage-designed UltraFlex solar arrays for the final flight configuration of the spacecraft.

InSight (Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport) is a NASA Discovery Program mission that will place a single geophysical lander on Mars to study its deep interior. In addition, InSight will serve as a terrestrial planet explorer that will open a window into the processes that shaped the rocky planets of the inner solar system (including Earth) more than four billion years ago. 

"Missions of this magnitude require extremely high reliability and proven performance," said David Messner, Vice President and General Manager of Solar Arrays and Deployables for ATK's Space Components division. "We are pleased to be partnering with EMCORE again, this time to support the exploration of the Martian surface for Lockheed Martin and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory as part of the exciting Mars InSight program."

"This contract with ATK is a very important award for EMCORE, and we are honored once again to contribute to NASA's next mission to Mars," said Dr. Brad Clevenger, Executive Vice President and General Manager of EMCORE's Photovoltaics Division.   "EMCORE has partnered with ATK on many successful programs and has supported several high-profile NASA-JPL missions including the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) that carried the rover 'Curiosity' to Mars."  

"EMCORE is in the process of delivering solar panels for several other NASA missions including the Green Propellant Infusion Mission (GPIM) with ATK," added Navid Fatemi, Vice President of Business Development for EMCORE Photovoltaics. "We greatly value our long-standing business relationship with ATK and look forward to another successful partnership with ATK on NASA's Insight Mars Lander mission."

EMCORE is one of the world's leading manufacturers of highly-efficient radiation-hard solar cells for space power applications. With a Beginning-Of-Life (BOL) conversion efficiency nearing 30% and the option for a patented, onboard monolithic bypass diode, EMCORE's industry-leading multi-junction solar cells provide the highest levels of performance to interplanetary spacecraft and earth orbiting satellites. EMCORE's proven manufacturing capability, technology leadership and high-reliability solar cells and panels make us the supplier of choice for demanding spacecraft power systems.

About EMCORE

EMCORE Corporation offers a broad portfolio of compound semiconductor-based products for the fiber optics and space solar power markets. EMCORE's Fiber Optics business segment provides optical components, subsystems and systems for high-speed telecommunications, Cable Television (CATV) and Fiber-To-The-Premise (FTTP) networks, as well as products for satellite communications, video transport and specialty photonics technologies for defense and homeland security applications. EMCORE's Solar Photovoltaics business segment provides products for space power applications including high-efficiency multi-junction solar cells, Coverglass Interconnected Cells (CICs) and complete satellite solar panels. For further information about EMCORE, visit http://www.emcore.com.

About ATK

ATK is an aerospace, defense, and commercial products company with operations in 22 states, Puerto Rico, and internationally. News and information about ATK can be found on the Internet at www.atk.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/atk, or on Twitter @ATK.

Forward–looking statements:

The information provided herein may include forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such statements include statements regarding EMCORE's expectations, goals or intentions, including, but not limited to, financial performance, production schedules, expected customer sales, product features and their benefits, product quality and product performance. These forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about EMCORE and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those stated in the forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties that could cause EMCORE's actual results to differ from those set forth in any forward-looking statement are discussed in more detail in EMCORE's SEC filings available at www.sec.gov, including under the headings "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations." Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made only as of the date hereof, and EMCORE undertakes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.