The Space Foundation announced today that the Microbial Check Valve (MCV) and Emulsified Zero-Valent Iron (EZVI) are the 2007 inductees into the prestigious Space Technology Hall of Fame. The organizations and individuals who developed and adapted these important and innovative technologies will be recognized on April 12 at the 23rd National Space Symposium – the premier annual space industry conference, held April 9-12, 2007, at The Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs.
The Space Foundation, in cooperation with NASA, established the Space Technology Hall of Fame to increase public awareness of the benefits that result from space exploration programs and to encourage further innovation. Since 1988, the Space Technology Hall of Fame has honored 54 technologies as well as the innovating organizations and individuals who transformed space technology into commercial products that improve life here on Earth.
The Microbial Check Valve (MCV), an iodine-based disinfection system, is the core for water purification systems now deployed in rural areas and developing countries around the world. The MCV system was originally developed for NASA to provide advanced water purification for the space shuttle and eventually the International Space Station (ISS). The Water Security Corporation now provides MCV systems to developing countries where the lack of safe drinking water is a serious health concern.
MCV technology eliminates bacteria and viruses in contaminated water using a patented ion exchange resin feature – Iodosorb(r) – that removes virtually all residual iodine from the treated water. This technology makes iodine-based disinfection a practical solution for a wide range of markets. Recipients of the MCV system include earthquake refugees in Pakistan, villagers in northern Iraq, and the people of rural Sabana San Juan, Dominican Republic. The Water Security Corporation, Sparks, Nev.; Umpqua Research, Myrtle Creek, Ore.; and NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas, will be inducted as the innovating organizations behind the MCV technology.
Emulsified Zero-Valent Iron (EZVI) technology was originally developed to clean up pollution at the Kennedy Space Center caused by chlorinated solvents used to clean Apollo rocket parts. This technology is now used at both government and private industry cleanup sites. EZVI is a cost effective technology used to clean ground water contaminated by dense non-aqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs). DNAPLs are chemical compounds that contaminate soil and groundwater to the point of irreparability, because they are only slightly soluble in and much denser than water. EZVI uses iron particles in an environmentally friendly oil and water base that neutralizes the toxic chemicals.
One of the few methods that can treat the DNAPL source, EZVI was also recognized as NASA’s Government Invention of the Year and Commercial Invention of the Year in 2005. NASA Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, Fla.; Weston Solutions, West Chester, Pa.; GeoSyntec, Guelph, Ontario, Canada; and the University of Central Florida, Orlando; will be inducted as the innovating organizations responsible for EZVI technology.
The individuals within the inductee organizations, whose contributions truly made these important, innovative, and life-improving technologies a reality, will also be recognized. This year, 14 individuals will be inducted and three will receive commendations for their work. Funding sources behind the inductee technologies will also receive commendations for their roles. The Space Technology Hall of Fame honorees will be recognized at the 23rd National Space Symposium in a Private Induction ceremony, co-sponsored by Cisco Systems; and at the Space Technology Hall of Fame dinner, co-sponsored by Lockheed Martin. A complete list of all Space Technology Hall of Fame inducted technologies and innovating organizations and individuals can be found online at www.SpaceTechHallofFame.org.
More than 7,000 registrants, guests, speakers, exhibitors, and media are expected to attend the 23rd National Space Symposium. The most senior executive leadership from NASA and other space and government agencies, the commercial space and satellite broadcasting industry, research universities and academia, space tourism entrepreneurs, the Department of Defense, military space commands and the global space industry come to Colorado Springs for the four day conference that addresses civil, commercial, and national security space issues. Highlights of the 23rd National Space Symposium also include an extensive exhibit center showcasing more than 140 companies and organizations, co-sponsored by Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.; a spectacular opening ceremony, co-sponsored by Northrop Grumman; opening reception, co-sponsored by the Colorado Space Coalition; opening night fireworks and dessert reception, co-sponsored by United Space Alliance; the Corporate Partnership dinner, co-sponsored by Raytheon Company; and the presentation of the Space Foundation’s highest honor, the General James E. Hill Lifetime Space Achievement Award, at a luncheon co-sponsored by The Boeing Company.
Additional co-sponsors of the symposium are Analytical Graphics, Inc. (AGI), Ares Corporation, ATK, BAE Systems, BearingPoint, CSP Associates, General Dynamics, Honeywell, IAC 2008 Ltd., Infinite Links, ITT, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Stellar Solutions, Swales Aerospace and United Launch Alliance. Media partners for the 23rd National Space Symposium are Aviation Week, The New York Times and Space News. Frontier Airlines is the official airline of the conference.
Visit www.NationalSpaceSymposium.org for secure online registration, an updated program agenda, confirmed speaker list, and exhibitor list.
About the Space Foundation
Founded in 1983 and headquartered in Colorado Springs, the Space Foundation is a national nonprofit organization that vigorously advances civil, commercial, and national security space endeavors and inspires, enables, and propels tomorrow’s explorers. The Space Foundation also has an office in Washington, D.C., and field representatives in Houston, Texas, and Cape Canaveral, Fla. The Space Foundation is a leader in space awareness activities, trade association services, research and analysis for the global space industry, and educational enterprises that bring space into the classroom. Along with partnering organizations, the Space Foundation also conducts Strategic Space and Defense (Oct. 9-11, 2007), in Omaha, Neb. For more information, visit www.SpaceFoundation.org.
