News
Camarillo, CA and Rockledge, FL (October 12, 2021) – NASA later this month will be launching its historic Lucy asteroid probe later this month, and Saalex Solutions will be providing critical launch support services for the launch. The mission, which starts with a liftoff from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station October 16, will have Lucy visiting eight asteroids over 12 years, the most asteroids ever visited by a single space probe.
Lucy, named after the famous female fossil found in Ethiopia, will explore an area close to Jupiter that is known for a unique type of asteroid. Scientists feel these asteroids can unlock secrets about the creation of the solar system and quite possibly the evolution of life on this planet, much the way the Lucy ancestral fossil did about our understanding of the origins of humans on Earth.
Saalex’s Expendable Launch Vehicle Integrated Support 3 (ELVIS 3) team is providing engineering, programmatic, and technical support for the launch. This is the latest rocket launch that the ELVIS 3 team has supported this year, having recently assisted with the Landsat 9 launch, and an April SpaceX manned flight to the International Space Station.
“This is a tremendously exciting mission to be a part of, and we are so honored to be affiliated with this groundbreaking team of space explorers,” said Travis Mack, president and CEO, Saalex. “ELVIS 3 is becoming one of the top space launch support teams in the United States, and we could not be more proud of the impactful work it is doing.”
Lucy will conduct surface mapping of the asteroids, to better understand their age and composition, and check for organic materials. The spacecraft will also look for any potential additional asteroids in the area. It will travel farther from the sun than any solar-powered probe ever.
About Saalex Solutions
Saalex Solutions, the Federal services division of Saalex Corporation, supports Department of Defense agencies to include Navy, Army, Air Force, and NASA. It provides core competencies in the areas of test range operations and management, engineering and logistics services, cybersecurity, and information technology services. Founded in 1999 by Travis Mack, Saalex Solutions is a service-disabled veteran-owned business headquartered in Camarillo, CA.
Learn more at www.saalex.com.
Contact:
Neal Stein
Technology PR Solutions
nealjstein@techprsolutions.com
(321) 473-7407
