HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — August 2nd, 2023 — Tec-Masters, Inc. (TMI), a Huntsville-based company with over 30 years of experience in the NASA and Department of Defense industries, has marked a significant milestone as its Microgravity Research for Versatile Investigations (MaRVIn) was successfully launched to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard Northrop Grumman’s NG-19 mission today.
Designed to perform a variety of scientific and commercial investigations in microgravity, MaRVIn has been entirely developed by TMI. The facility offers an affordable and efficient solution for a broad array of studies, including material properties and diffusion process characterizations, molten materials behavior and properties, semiconductor research, and chemical reaction and fluids management studies.
Reflecting on this momentous achievement, Dr. Marvin Carroll, CEO of Tec-Masters, Inc. and the namesake of the MaRVIn facility, stated, “The launch of MaRVIn represents the fruition of years of hard work and commitment. This significant step forward in microgravity research embodies our ongoing commitment to pushing the boundaries of scientific exploration.”
This successful launch marks TMI’s first commercial venture on the International Space Station. A company with a rich history in delivering technology-driven solutions to NASA and the Department of Defense, TMI now expands its horizons into commercial space activities.
Reggie Spivey, COO of Tec-Masters, added, “We are incredibly proud of our team’s work on MaRVIn. It stands as a testament to our dedication to advancing scientific knowledge, and we are thrilled about the potential discoveries this will facilitate on the International Space Station.”
The NG-19 mission also signifies a notable achievement for NASA and Northrop Grumman, as it marks the last flight of the current version of the Antares rocket, utilizing a Ukrainian first stage and Russian engines. Future missions will see a shift towards domestically manufactured first stages, spearheaded by Northrop Grumman in collaboration with Firefly Aerospace.
The innovative capabilities of MaRVIn have already garnered recognition from media outlets. In a recent feature by Huntsville-based news station, WAFF, the potential contributions of MaRVIn to space research were highlighted. The video can be viewed below.
Today’s successful launch of MaRVIn opens a new chapter in microgravity research and represents a notable triumph for Tec-Masters, Inc. This mission is set to drive advancements in our understanding of the microgravity environment and holds promise for groundbreaking scientific discoveries.