Moxtek^® plays key role in Mars missions

January 2004

NASA's successful landing and deployment of the Mars rover Spirit marks a significant milestone for Orem based Moxtek^®, Inc. "This is the second time our products have visited Mars and we anxiously await the landing of the third," stated Jim Phillips, Vice President and X-ray Division Manager. "A critical part of each Mars exploration mission is the scientific data that is recorded and relayed back to NASA. Our x-ray window products are a critical component of the alpha particle x-ray spectrometer (APXS). The Sojourner rover which landed July 4, 1997 and transmitted through September 27, 1997 had an APXS which utilized MOXTEK technology, and the two current rovers (Spirit, which landed on Mars January 4, 2004 and is currently exploring, and Opportunity, which is scheduled to land January 25, 2004) have similar instrumentation. The results achieved by the Sojourner in 1997 were exciting, and we anticipate more good results with the Spirit and Opportunity. Our international partners at KETEK GmbH in Munich, Germany are pleased with the success of the rovers," stated Mr. Phillips. NASA explains the role of the APXS on their website as follows:

The APXS is designed to study the alpha particles and x-rays emitted by rocks and soils in order to determine their elemental chemistry. Alpha particles are emitted during radioactive decay and X-rays are a type of electromagnetic radiation, like light and microwaves. The elemental composition of a rock describes the amounts of different elements that have come together to form all of the minerals within the rock. Knowing the elemental composition of Martian rocks provides scientists with information about the formation of the planet's crust, as well as any weathering that has taken place.

Ms. Christine Roberts, the Windows Product Manager, states "The patented Duraberyllium^® window product gives a significant performance advantage to the spectrometer in both sensitivity and durability. The window acts as a protective barrier against particles and contaminates while allowing the x-rays to pass through to the sensors. We are excited about the small part our company is playing in furthering the American space program. The simple fact that our products helped enable these early explorations of Mars which are a precursor to President Bush's goal of human missions to Mars is a privilege."

Moxtek has worked since its inception in 1986 to develop a reputation of excellence in the analytical x-ray industry. Recently the company has also branched out into polarization optics and has a technology critical to next-generation, rear-projection, high-definition televisions. Mr. Phillips concludes, "We have an excellent and diverse set of proprietary technologies at Moxtek. We believe we are positioned to be a major force in all of our chosen markets."

Moxtek has agreed to be acquired by Polatechno Ltd. (PLC) of Tokyo, Japan in a transaction that must be ratified by Moxtek shareholders. "Moxtek is excited about the potential to expand its leading-edge technologies into new market areas with PLC's strong manufacturing focus and successful worldwide marketing activities. We feel that PLC will provide the support needed to meet the rapid growth expected in the dynamic display market and will maintain the service focus and independence in the analytical components market," states Glenn Stewart, President of Moxtek.

PLC plans to retain the Moxtek name, personnel and operating facilities at their existing location in Orem, Utah. PLC will also maintain and support Moxtek's existing customer base in both analytical instrumentation components and polarization components. The combined company expects to expand Moxtek's market segment share in both served markets.