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USN PROVIDES MISSION-CRITICAL PAYLOAD TELEMETRY SERVICES FOR NASA CALIPSO MISSION

Joint NASA/CNES Effort Relies on USN's Ground Stations in Alaska and Hawaii for Cost-Effective, Reliable Support

NEWPORT BEACH, CA (May 12, 2006)—Universal Space Network, Inc. (USN), a leading provider of space operations and ground control and communications solutions, announced today that the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) satellite, launched April 28th from Vandenberg AFB in California, is successfully utilizing the company's telemetry, tracking and control (TT&C) network for X-band payload telemetry services. USN is providing the mission services through an agreement with CALIPSO prime contractor Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.

The CALIPSO payload, launched in tandem with the CloudSat spacecraft, is relying on USN's X-Band telemetry system and ground stations in Hawaii and Alaska to downlink high-rate science data as well as all payload engineering, health and status information. The science data will be analyzed by NASA's Langley Research Center's Atmospheric Sciences Center in Hampton, Va., to provide a better understanding of the role that clouds and atmospheric particles play in regulating the Earth's weather, climate and air quality.

CALIPSO flies as part of NASA's Earth System Science Pathfinder Program, which involves several missions—including the Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO), Hydrosphere State Mission (HYDROS) and Aquarius—dedicated to studying the Earth's weather and environment. Data collected during CALIPSO's three-year mission is expected to improve worldwide climate change predictions and allow scientists to better understand how aerosols released in the Earth's atmosphere affect the overall environment.

"The CALIPSO program is another in a long list of NASA missions that is benefiting from commercial TT&C and data downlink services," said Joe Rothenberg, USN President and Chief Customer Service Officer. "The decision to outsource the collection of CALIPSO instrument data to our commercial network provides the mission with both cost and risk advantages over alternative approaches. USN is pleased to be the X-Band provider of choice to CALIPSO."

About Universal Space Network

Universal Space Network, Inc. (USN) is a leader in space operations for telemetry, tracking and control (TT&C) services. Offering responsive, reliable and cost-effective solutions to the global government and commercial space community, USN provides unparalleled coverage through a seamless network of worldwide satellite tracking and communications assets. These assets include both those owned by USN and those of our collaborative partners. The company has offices in Newport Beach, Calif., and Horsham, Pa. For more information, please visit www.uspacenetwork.com or www.prioranet.com.