UrtheCast's Medium Resolution Camera Completes First Acceptance Testing, Ships to RSC Energia

VANCOUVER, July 16, 2013 /CNW/ - UrtheCast Corp. (TSX: UR) (UrtheCast) is pleased to announce that its Medium Resolution Camera (MRC) has passed its first Acceptance Test (AT-1), allowing for the MRC to be shipped from Rutherford Appleton Laboratories (RAL Space) in the United Kingdom to S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation (Energia) in Russia.

Representatives from UrtheCast, Energia, RAL Space, and MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA) participated in the completion of the AT-1. This takes UrtheCast one-step closer to the November 2013 launch of UrtheCast's cameras to the International Space Station (ISS) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan aboard a Soyuz Progress-M rocket. AT-1 is the culmination of months of testing, which included electrical and functional tests of the camera as well as full environmental testing (thermal vacuum, vibration and electro-magnetic compatibility).

"Completing the AT-1 on the MRC is one of the most important milestones UrtheCast has achieved to date. We couldn't be more pleased with how the camera has been built by the teams at RAL and MDA," explained UrtheCast's Chief Technology Officer and co-founder, Dr. George Tyc. "We're now looking forward to following the same procedure with the High Resolution Camera."

"This is a significant achievement for both RAL Space's and UrtheCast's engineering teams. For two years, UrtheCast's cameras have been constructed and tested in our laboratory, and it's great to have seen the first UrtheCast camera through to completion. Our team has worked on many exciting programmes over the years, but UrtheCast is one of the more ambitious projects we've been a part of," said Prof. Richard Holdaway, Director of RAL Space.

The second stage of the Acceptance Test process, AT-2, will commence soon after the MRC's arrival in Russia.

More information can be found at UrtheCast.com [www.UrtheCast.com].

About UrtheCast Corp.

UrtheCast Corp. is a Vancouver-based technology company that is developing the world's first near-live HD video feed of Earth, from space. Working with renowned aerospace partners from across the globe, UrtheCast is building, launching, installing, and will operate two cameras on the Russian segment of the ISS. Video data captured by the cameras will be downlinked to ground stations across the planet and displayed on the UrtheCast web platform, or distributed directly to exclusive partners and customers. UrtheCast's cameras will provide high-resolution video and imagery of Earth that will allow for monitoring of the environment, humanitarian relief, social events, agricultural land, etc. UrtheCast is in the final stages of completing the assembly of two cameras that are expected to launch into space in late 2013.

Forward Looking Information

This release contains certain "forward looking statements" and certain "forward-looking information" as defined under applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information involves statements that relate to future events and often addresses expected future business and financial performance, containing words such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", and "intend", statements that an action or event "may", "might", "could", "should", or "will" be taken or occur, or other similar expressions and includes, but is not limited to, statements about the development and production schedule of cameras suitable for mounting on the ISS, the expected launch date for UrtheCast's cameras to be delivered to the ISS, plans to operate camera components on, and stream video footage from, the ISS, and proposed image and video product offerings.  Forward-looking statements and information are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the ability of UrtheCast to control or predict, and which may cause the UrtheCast's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied thereby, including, but not limited to, technology changes, reliance on key personnel, the potential for conflicts of interest among certain officers, directors or promoters with certain other projects, competition, delays in AT-2 approval or launch schedules, and unexpected changes in Russian or Canadian government policies, as well as those factors discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in Appendix "A" of UrtheCast (formerly Longford Energy Inc.) and Earth Video Camera Inc.'s Joint Information Circular (the "Circular") dated May 10, 2013, which is available under UrtheCast's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com.  Forward-looking information is developed based on assumptions about such risks, uncertainties and other factors set out herein, in the Circular, and as otherwise disclosed from time to time on UrtheCast's SEDAR profile.

Forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date that statements are made and UrtheCast undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual future results may vary materially. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.

SOURCE: UrtheCast Corp.

Scott Larson
President and Chief Executive Officer
UrtheCast Corp.
[phone]