New East Greenwich Company Makes Mars Rover Batteries - ABC6 - Providence, RI and New Bedford, MA News, Weather

New East Greenwich Company Makes Mars Rover Batteries

by Mark Curtis  

mcurtis@abc6.com

     This is pretty cool! The latest Mars Rover has landed, and with it some technology from Southern New England. The Lithium Ion batteries that power the rover were made by Yardney Technical Products.... a company that is in the process of moving it's operations to East Greenwich.

     Steve Lombardi, East Greenwich Chamber of Commerce Executive Director said, "This is very significant to the town, with what's been announced in terms of them being a part of the landing on Mars. They bring high-tech jobs to the community."

     Yardney has been moving into a vacant building once used by ON Semiconductor, on South Country Trail, and plans to employee about 150 people. The plant is a "stone's throw" from East Greenwich High School.

     ABC 6 Reporter Mark Curtis said, "And many people here hope the stories the Mars Rover and it's locally made batteries will be a living science lesson for the students."

     While school is out for the summer....some of the students are on campus getting in shape for fall sports. They're exc8ited about their new neighbor and its roll in the Mars mission:

     Chris Troia, an East Greenwich High School student said, "It's really cool, that like something that's really close to us is on another planet."

     Dylan Leyden, another East Greenwich High School student said, "It can give us hope for maybe something in the future. Maybe we can land on all the planets."

     In fact, other batteries made by Yardney Technical Products, are on the Juno Spacecraft, which is on it's way to Jupiter. The Rhode Island EDC and the East Greenwich Chamber of Commerce and Town Council all helped to bring Yardney to East Greenwich.