Environmental Tectonics Corporation Offers Future Scientist-Astronauts and Educator-Astronauts Training at NASTAR Center

SOUTHAMPTON, Pa., May 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Environmental Tectonics Corporation's (OTC Bulletin Board: ETCC) ("ETC" or the "Company") The NASTAR® Center, the premier commercial aerospace training and research center in the world, and member of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation, conducted last week its latest set of Suborbital Scientist space training for future scientist-astronauts and educator-astronauts.  Participants learned how to design and fly scientific research experiments onboard commercial suborbital spacecraft such as those operated by Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin, XCOR Aerospace, and Armadillo Aerospace.

Demonstrating the strong interest from the scientific community in using commercial suborbital vehicles for science, research, and education, a total of 42 researchers from 18 different universities and organizations have now each spent three days training at NASTAR Center in four separate classes since the Suborbital Scientist Training Program debuted in January 2010. The upcoming suborbital scientist class on July 11-13 is already fully booked, and a university booked a custom class for July 18-20.  The next available slot for potential scientist-astronauts is September 12-14.

Keith Cowing, a Board of Directors member of the Challenger Center for Space Education and well-known space journalist, remarked, "Based on my NASTAR experience (centrifuge & altitude chamber), ANYONE in good health with good training can fly to space.  These new suborbital vehicles will inaugurate a new era for education and science, and I'm excited to cover it just as its true potential starts to unfold."

Dr. Alan Stern, associate vice president at Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) and chairman of the CSF's Suborbital Applications Researchers Group, stated, "This shows sustained interest in the researcher/educator community" in suborbital spaceflight.  In early 2010, SwRI helped kick off the Suborbital Scientist Training Program in conjunction with NASTAR.  (See: http://www.swri.org/9what/releases/2009/nastar.htm.)

Training sessions in the multi-day "Suborbital Scientist Training Course" included: Altitude Chamber Flight in a hypobaric chamber; G-Tolerance Flights in a high-g centrifuge; and a distraction factor exercise.  Topics covered in ground school included: Intro to Suborbital Flight & Vehicles; Altitude Physiology; Motion & Acceleration Physiology; Space Launch & Reentry Training; Working Under Pressure; and Time Management. (for more info: http://www.nastarcenter.com/space/suborbital_scientist).

Brienna Henwood, Director for Space and Research at NASTAR Center, remarked, "I can't think of a better way to inspire students to pursue science careers, than by providing hand-on space training and realistic spaceflight opportunities that will enable them to one day join the ranks of an entirely new class of explorer - the suborbital scientist-astronaut.  We fully expect that hundreds of scientists will fly into space during the next 10 years as these vehicles start flying, and NASTAR is proud to offer the needed space training services to get them there."

Other participants included Cathy Olkin and Constantine Tsang from the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), an nonprofit institution which recently announced it will be buying tickets for scientists' flights to space as part of a historic deal announced by SwRI to buy seats on the XCOR Aerospace and Virgin Galactic vehicles; Rex Ridenoure, CEO of Ecliptic Enterprises; Tony Dokupil from NEWSWEEK, and several other trainees.

About ETC's The NASTAR Center

The National AeroSpace Training and Research Center (NASTAR) Center houses state-of-the-art equipment and professional staff to support the training and research needs of the aerospace community, including military aviation (fixed and rotary wing), civil aviation (fixed and rotary wing), space travel (government and private) and research support and data collection. NASTAR Center's equipment and programs are highly modular and flexible and can accommodate a wide range of aerospace training and research requirements. For more information please visit www.nastarcenter.com or contact Brienna Henwood at [email protected] or 215-355-9100 x1504.

About the Commercial Spaceflight Federation

The mission of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation (CSF) is to promote the development of commercial human spaceflight, pursue ever-higher levels of safety, and share best practices and expertise throughout the industry. The Commercial Spaceflight Federation's member companies, which include commercial spaceflight developers, operators, spaceports, suppliers, and service providers, are creating thousands of high-tech jobs nationwide, working to preserve American leadership in aerospace through technology innovation, and inspiring young people to pursue careers in science and engineering. For more information please visit www.commercialspaceflight.org or contact Executive Director John Gedmark at [email protected] or at 202.349.1121.

Environmental Tectonics Corporation was incorporated in 1969 in Pennsylvania, USA. For over forty years, we have provided our customers with products, service and support.  Innovation, continuous technological improvement and enhancement, and product quality are core values and critical to our success. We operate in two business segments – Training Services Group ("TSG") and Control Systems Group ("CSG"). Our core technologies in TSG include the design, manufacture and sale of training services which includes (1) software driven products and services used to create and monitor the physiological effects of flight; (2) high performance jet tactical flight simulation, and; (3) driving and disaster simulation systems, and in CSG include: (1) steam and gas sterilization; (2) testing and simulation devices for the automotive industry, and; (3) hyperbaric and hypobaric chambers. Product categories included in TSG are Authentic Tactical Fighting Systems (ATFS), Aircrew Training Systems (ATS) and disaster management systems (ADMS). CSG includes sterilizers, environmental control devices and hypo/hyperbaric chambers along with parts and service support.

Discussions of some of the matters contained in this press release  may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as such, may involve risks and uncertainties. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events or future financial performance, which include implementing our business strategy, developing and introducing new technologies, obtaining, maintaining and expanding market acceptance of the technologies we offer, and competition in our markets. These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions about ETC and its subsidiaries that may cause actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements include statements with respect to the Company's vision, mission, strategies, goals, beliefs, plans, objectives, expectations, anticipations, estimates, intentions, financial condition, results of operations, future performance and business of the Company, including, but not limited to, (i) projections of revenues, costs of materials, income or loss, earnings or loss per share, capital expenditures, growth prospects, dividends, capital structure, other financial items and the effects of currency fluctuations, (ii) statements or plans and objectives of the Company or its management or Board of Directors, including the introduction of new products, or estimates or predictions of actions of customers, suppliers, competitors or regulatory authorities, (iii) statements of future economic performance, (iv) statements of assumptions and other statements about the Company or its business, (v) statements made about the possible outcomes of litigation involving the Company, (vi) statements regarding the Company's ability to obtain financing to support its operations and other expenses, and (vii) statements preceded by, followed by or that include terminology such as "may," "will," "should," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "future," "predict," "potential," "intend," or "continue," and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties which are subject to change based on various important factors. Some of these risks and uncertainties, in whole or in part, are beyond the Company's control. Factors that might cause or contribute to such a material difference include, but are not limited to, those discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10K/A for the fiscal year ended February 26, 2010, in the section entitled "Risks Particular to Our Business."  Shareholders are urged to review these risks carefully prior to making an investment in the Company's common stock.

The Company cautions that the foregoing list of factors that could affect forward-looking statements by ETC is not exclusive. Except as required by federal securities law, the Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company.

http://www.etcusa.com

SOURCE Environmental Tectonics Corporation

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