8-K

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): September 8, 2010

Astrotech Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Washington	001-34426	91-1273737
(State or other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

401 Congress Ave. Suite 1650 Austin, Texas	78701
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (512) 485-9530

(Former name or former address if changed since last report.)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 8.01 Other Events

1^st Detect Corporation, a subsidiary of Astrotech Corporation (Nasdaq: ASTC), announced today that the Joint Science and Technology Office for Chemical and Biological Defense (Ft. Belvoir, VA), in conjunction with U.S. Army Dugway Proving Ground (Dugway, UT) has awarded a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II contract to the Company to design and develop a novel sample inlet system intended to significantly improve the sensitivity of mass spectrometers used for chemical detection in the field. This contract is valued at $735,000 and follows 1^st Detect’s successful execution of a Phase I SBIR that was awarded in May 2009.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

99.1 Press release, dated September 14, 2010, issued by 1^st Detect Corporation.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

ASTROTECH CORPORATION
By:	/s/ Thomas B. Pickens, III
	Name:	Thomas B. Pickens, III
	Title:	Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer

Date: September 14, 2010

EXHIBIT INDEX

		Paper (P) or
Exhibit No.	Description	Electronic (E)
99.1	Press release, dated September 14, 2010, issued by 1st Detect Corporation.	E

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

1st Detect Corporation
111 Congress, Suite 400
Austin, Texas 78701
1.512.485.9530
fax: 1.512.485.9531
www.1stDetect.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

1^ST DETECT AWARDED $735,000 PHASE II SBIR CONTRACT FROM THE JOINT SCIENCE
& TECHNOLOGY OFFICE FOR CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL DEFENSE
1st Detect to Develop a Pre-concentrator for Chemical Detection Improvements

Austin, Texas, Sept. 14, 2010 — 1^st Detect Corporation, a subsidiary of Astrotech Corporation (Nasdaq: ASTC), announced today that the Joint Science and Technology Office for Chemical and Biological Defense (Ft. Belvoir, VA), in conjunction with U.S. Army Dugway Proving Ground (Dugway, UT) has awarded a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II contract to the Company to design and develop a novel sample inlet system intended to significantly improve the sensitivity of mass spectrometers used for chemical detection in the field. This contract follows 1^st Detect’s successful execution of a Phase I SBIR that was awarded in May 2009.

“This award recognizes the achievements we’ve made developing advancements in chemical detection technology, designed to enhance the U.S. Military’s capability to better detect chemical warfare threats,” said John Porter, Chief Executive Officer for the Company.

The Phase II award enables the company to transition its proof of concept pre-concentrator into a field-testable prototype, and opens up significant potential markets beyond chemical and biological defense. The $735,000 award will be used to further develop 1^st Detect’s pre-concentrator inlet designed to provide a fast response time along with significantly increased chemical detection sensitivity.

The pre-concentrator will be integrated into 1^st Detect’s Miniature Chemical Detector, a portable, handheld mass spectrometer. The device, originally created to sample the air quality on the International Space Station, detects residues and vapors from a wide range of toxins, organic compounds, and explosives. This technology is being marketed to the military, security, industrial and healthcare markets and was designated as CBRNe World’s Editor’s Choice at the prestigious Pittcon 2010 Conference.

“1st Detect is proud to continue our work with DoD’s Joint Chemical and Biological Defense Program and the U.S. Army’s Dugway Proving Ground in the development of this innovative detection technology,” added David Rafferty, President and Chief Technology Officer for 1^st Detect.

A key objective of the Chemical and Biological Defense Small Business Innovation Research Program is to permit small businesses to conduct research and development, and subsequently transition innovative technologies between the Department of Defense and the private sector for mutual benefit. The program targets those technology efforts that maximize a strong defensive posture in a biological or chemical environment using passive and active means as deterrents.

About 1^st Detect Corporation
1^st Detect Corporation was formed by Astrotech Corporation (Nasdaq: ASTC) to develop and commercialize miniature-mass spectrometer technology first developed for the International Space Station (ISS). 1^st Detect offers the Miniature Chemical Detector, a breakthrough device in mass spectrometry that fills a niche by being highly accurate, lightweight, battery-powered, durable and inexpensive. The 1^st Detect Miniature Chemical Detector is capable of detecting residues and vapors from explosives, chemical warfare agents, toxic chemicals, food and beverage contamination, illicit drugs and pollution. It is sensitive, accurate, and fast which provides orders of magnitude better informing power than competing products. For more information about 1^st Detect, please see our website at www.1stDetect.com

About Astrotech Corporation
Astrotech is one of the first space commerce companies and remains a strong entrepreneurial force in the aerospace industry. We are leaders in identifying, developing and marketing space technology for commercial use. Our Astrotech Space Operations (ASO) business unit serves our government and commercial satellite and spacecraft customers with pre-launch services on the eastern and western range. 1st Detect Corporation is developing what we believe is a breakthrough miniature chemical detector, while Astrogenetix, Inc. is a biotechnology company utilizing microgravity as a research platform for drug discovery and development.

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, trends, and uncertainties that could cause actual results to be materially different from the forward-looking statement. These factors include, but are not limited to, continued government support and funding for key space programs, the ability to expand ASO, product performance and market acceptance of products and services, as well as other risk factors and business considerations described in the Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings including the annual report on Form 10-K. Any forward-looking statements in this document should be evaluated in light of these important risk factors. The Company assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Scott Haywood
Corporate Marketing and Communications
1^st Detect Corporation
512.485.9530
shaywood@1stdetect.com

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