The story has the by line of Shana Dale (the NASA Deputy Administrator) herself, and is distributed on an internal NASA website, some people may not have access so here is. (The on line story includes pictures of our CEO and President.)
Paragon Space Development Corporation Dec 28, 200706:30:54 PM | Shana Dale
NASA drives innovation, which creates new jobs, new markets and new
technologies through a modest investment of less than six-tenths of one
percent of the overall federal budget.
Paragon Space Development Corporation in Tucson, Ariz., is one example.
Paragon is a woman-owned small business specializing in aerospace
engineering and technology development. Paragon is an innovative
company in its own right, and also is an example of the creative ways
NASA works with local governments and small businesses to create better
opportunities for all.
As a recipient of a NASA Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR)
grant, Paragon developed a new, reduced weight radiator system for use
on America's next-generation spacecraft, the Orion Crew Exploration
Vehicle. Orion, and Ares I, the rocket that will carry it, are
progressively moving from contracts to equipment tests. All major
contracts for the Ares I were awarded in 2007, and component testing has
already begun.
Paragon credits the Arizona Department of Commerce and the Arizona
governor's FAST Grant Award (Federal And State Technology partnership
program) for the seed funds that led to the NASA SBIR grant. Paragon
used its $5,000 FAST grant award to write its initial proposal to NASA.
The U.S. Small Business Administration and the Arizona Department of
Commerce fund the FAST Grant program. It focuses on returning federal
>grants for Arizona-based companies, and creating new jobs and new
jobs in America.
Paragon's success shows how industry teamed with government at the local
and federal levels can spur innovation and create the jobs that build
stronger communities. "We've received, over the last three years, $1.4
million in grants that we can attribute to that $5,000 worth of
assistance from the state. That's a pretty good rate of return for the
state," said Taber McCallum, chief executive officer and co-founder of
Paragon.
Paragon Space Development Corporation shows how NASA-driven innovations
are benefiting commercial concerns across the country. They prove that
the nation's modest investment in NASA produces powerful returns.
