ROCKLEDGE, FL – May 30, 2006 – Mainstream Engineering Corporation, a leading research and development company specializing in advanced thermal control and energy conversion, has been awarded a contract from NASA Johnson Space Center for the design, fabrication, testing, and flight readiness assessment of a Gravity-Insensitive Heat Pump. This vapor-compression cooling system is being developed for future lunar lander and lunar outpost applications.

The research involved in this program builds on two of Mainstream’s successful projects, oil-less compressors currently onboard the International Space Station, and solar-powered refrigerated containers currently under development for Army Natick.

The NASA contract, with options running through 2009, was placed against General Services Administration (GSA) Schedule 871 for Professional Engineering Services. GSA Schedules (also referred to as Multiple Award Schedules and Federal Supply Schedules) establish long-term government-wide contracts with pre-approved commercial firms, such as Mainstream, at pre-approved rates. An added benefit for both the government and Mainstream is the rapid time it takes to award a new contract.

Mainstream’s GSA Schedule includes mechanical, chemical, and electrical engineering disciplines for the following special item numbers:

871-2 Concept Development and Requirements Analysis
871-3 System Design, Engineering and Integration
871-4 Test and Evaluation
871-5 Integrated Logistics Support

Mainstream’s GSA Contract number is GS-23F-0126S and delivery orders can be placed through GSA Advantage!®.

ROCKLEDGE, FL – May 10, 2006 – Mainstream Engineering Corporation, a leading research and development company specializing in advanced thermal control and energy conversion, has been awarded two contracts from NASA Johnson Space Center to develop, test and produce non-toxic, low freezing point heat transfer fluids for space applications.

In the first contract, Mainstream is continuing to develop its QTherm™ line of heat transfer fluids with freezing points from -10 to -35°C and minimal volume expansion upon freezing. Mainstream engineers are also developing water-based fluids with an approximate 0°C freezing point, as well as a proprietary B-Pak™ biocide package for long-term, microbial resistance, and a P-Pak for pH buffering and corrosion control. As part of the contract, the Mainstream engineering team will be performing comprehensive thermal, physical and safety characterizations.

QTherm™ fluids have space-based applications in EVA suits, ISS secondary cooling loops and CEV environmental control. Mainstream is already using one coolant from this family of fluids in its QwikChill™ Instant Can Cooler, which is a developmental device for the Naval Surface Warfare Center and Office of Naval Research. The QwikChill™ Instant Can Cooler cools a can of soda from room temperature to refrigerator temperature in 10 seconds.

In the second contract, Mainstream is developing a non-toxic, non-flammable, -80°C phase-change material for NASA ICEPAC applications. ICEPACs are used as solid/liquid phase-change packs for cryogenic transfer in cryodewars.