Curtiss-Wright Corporation reports that the Dublin-based operation of its Defense Solutions division received a contract from the European Space Agency (ESA) to supply the Payload Data Router (PLDR) system that will be used to gather data in support of scientific and industrial payloads onboard the International Space Station (ISS).

Under the agreement, Curtiss-Wright's ACRA Control business in Dublin, Ireland, acting as a prime contractor for ESA, will develop and deliver the PLDR to ESA. The initial contract is valued at $2 million. Delivery of the flight model PLDR is scheduled for 2017.

"We are very proud to partner with the European Space Agency as a valued supplier of mission critical data acquisition and recording systems to the International Space Station," said Lynn Bamford, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Defense Solutions division.

"Curtiss-Wright's proven space heritage and recent successes in space station applications, such as the SpaceX Dragon vehicle and the ACLS data acquisition equipment for the ISS, led to our selection on this important program. This contract will contribute to growing the space team within the Curtiss-Wright Dublin operation and we look forward to future opportunities in the expanding commercial manned space sector."

"This is a significant achievement by an Irish business working at the cutting edge of space technologies," said Damien English T.D. Ireland's Minister of State for Skills, Research and Innovation, welcoming the announcement.

"The contract awarded by ESA demonstrates how Irish companies such as Curtiss-Wright's business unit in Dublin are developing technologies that achieve high levels of performance and reliability for the European space program."

The PLDR system is based on Curtiss-Wright's proven and qualified Space COTS (Commercial Off-The-Shelf) Acra KAM-500 Data Acquisition Unit solution. It includes a precision microgravity acceleration measurement module and a miniature networked data recording system, which are expected to provide continuous data measurement in the low earth orbit environment.

This system will reside in the ISS's Columbus module, the space station's ESA-contributed science laboratory, where it will enable ESA ground controllers and scientists to independently conduct measurements of microgravity levels.

Curtiss-Wright is developing a thermal-controlled housing for the PLDR to ensure that the equipment will meet the specific environmental requirements of the ISS. The PLDR system will be supplied as a turnkey acquisition and recording unit.

Ireland's industrial and research participation in the programs of the European Space Agency (ESA) is coordinated by Enterprise Ireland in collaboration with the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.

Speaking on behalf of Enterprise Ireland's ESA Delegation, Dr. Bryan Rodgers welcomed the successful contract saying "Curtiss-Wright's Dublin-based operation is one of a rapidly growing number of Irish companies working on high profile space missions such as the International Space Station and the global commercial space market with the support of the European Space Agency and Enterprise Ireland."