On Monday, November 18, 2013, NASA’s Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) successfully launched to Mars carried by the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. The spacecraft was built by Lockheed Martin and has Etched Disc Propellant and Pressurant Filters supplied by VACCO in its Propulsion System.
MAVEN’s mission is to study Mars’ upper atmosphere and find out what happened to the water that was once on the Red Planet. It is scheduled to arrive at Mars on September 22, 2014. Click here for Lockheed Martin's news release about the launch.
On Saturday, November 2, 2013, the Navy christened its newest and most advanced nuclear-attack submarine: the USS North Dakota (SSN 784). The ceremony took place in Groton, Connecticut at the General Dynamics Electric Boat shipyard.
The 11th ship of the Virginia class submarines, USS North Dakota is scheduled to be commissioned May 31, 2014. SSN-784 has nearly 40 VACCO valves and manifolds—both quiet and non-quiet—aboard. Click here to read more about the Navy’s newest Virginia class sub.
