NASA, BOEING SIGN AGREEMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
NASA and Boeing Defense and Space Group, Missiles and Space Division,
of Houston, TX, today completed negotiations and signed a $5.63 billion
contract for the design and development of the International Space
Station.
The contract, which extends through June 2003, is a cost-plus-incentive-
fee and award-fee agreement.
"We are extremely pleased to have a final agreement with our prime
contractor," said Randy Brinkley, Space Station Program Manager. "The
NASA and Boeing team members involved in drawing up the agreement did
an outstanding job, and have incorporated unique features to reduce
cost and to reduce risks to the taxpaying public."
Under the agreement, Boeing is responsible for the integration and
verification of the International Space Station system. Boeing also is
responsible for the design, analysis, manufacture, verification and
delivery of the U.S. on-orbit segments of the station. The contract
also directs Boeing to interact with NASA's international partners at a
technical level to ensure physical, functional, safety and operational
compatibility between elements within constraints of the various
agreements between the participants.
Boeing was selected as prime contractor for the station in August 1993,
following the redesign of Space Station Freedom.
"The Space Station is a catalyst for global cooperation," said Wilbur
Trafton, Space Station Program Director. "As the largest international
scientific and technological development ever undertaken, the
International Space Station will bring together resources from the
United States, Russia, Japan, member nations of the European Space
Agency, Canada and Italy."
The 400-ton station will include laboratories from four space agencies
that will support a variety of materials processing, microgravity
sciences and life sciences experiments.
Assembly will begin in November 1997 with the launch of the U.S.
purchased Russian FGB power and propulsion module. It will be followed
by the launch of the U.S. Lab Module in November 1998, the Canadian
robotic arm in December 1998, the Japanese Experiment Module in March
2000 and the European Columbus Orbital Facility in February 2001.
Assembly is scheduled to be completed in June 2002. Fabrication of
several elements has begun. Construction of the U.S. laboratory will
begin this year.
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- T o d d E. V a n H o o s e a r -
``'''vanhoose@lalaland.cl.msu.edu - vanhoose@msu.edu - vanhoose@lalaland.cl.msu.edu
(._.) Michigan State University - East Lansing, MI USA
(_) Computer Laboratory - Department of Communication
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