MARK KANAWATI PARTICIPATES IN SPACE DAY AT SMITHSONIAN’S NATIONAL AIR & SPACE MUSEUM

Fairfax, Virginia, May 11, 2001 - Mark Kanawati, a co-founder of Aprize Satellite Inc. and the company’s Vice President of Engineering, participated in the 5th annual Space Day celebration that was held at the National Air and Space Museum (NASM) last week in Washington, DC.

Kanawati appeared on behalf of the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), of which he is a key member. The satellite technology experts and space notables who participated and spoke at the event included: former US Senator John Glenn (D-OH); Dr. Sally Ride, President of SPACE.com; Dan Goldin, NASA Administrator; Dr. Vance Coffman, Chairman and CEO of Lockheed Martin Corp. and General Jack Dailey, Director of NASM.

Space Day is a global celebration produced in cooperation with approximately seventy partner organizations dedicated to the “extraordinary achievements, benefits and opportunities in the exploration and use of space.” Each year, thousands of students, teachers and space enthusiasts participate in a wide range of activities and interactive events “designed to advance science, math and technology and inspire young people to realize the vision of our space pioneers.”

As a technical visionary who directed the development of a Microsat Command Station for controlling one of the world’s first commercial LEO (low-Earth orbit) satellites, Kanawati talked to visitors about micro satellites and advancements in technology that is enabling companies such as Aprize to develop communications satellites at a far lower cost than had been thought possible just a few years ago.

Kanawati displayed a model of a micro satellite he developed that is similar to the small Aprize satellites (click here for photo) that will be launched and placed into orbit over the next few years. Each Aprize nansosat is an eight-inch cube, weighing twenty-five pounds. Satellites with comparable communications capabilities launched by other companies are often as much as ten times the size of the Aprize satellites.

About Aprize Satellite
Aprize Satellite Inc., a privately held company headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia, was established to provide reliable and affordable satellite data communications services worldwide. The company is deploying one of the world’s most advanced low-Earth orbit satellite (LEOSat) systems to enable businesses to track and monitor critical and high value mobile or fixed assets. Aprize Satellite’s innovative system architecture and nanosatellite technology allows for efficient data transmission quality delivered over the Internet and low monthly service fees using inexpensive user equipment.

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