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News Release For Immediate Release
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Agreement to Promote Commercial Space Ventures Houston, TX, June 16, 1997 — United Space Alliance (USA) and SPACEHAB, Inc. (NASDAQ: SPAB) of Vienna, Virginia, today announced the signing of an agreement to develop commercial markets for Space Shuttle and future International Space Station utilization support. The agreement combines the unique capabilities and expertise of the two companies. As NASA's single prime contractor for space flight operations, USA is a worldwide leader in conducting human space flight operations and in transporting, deploying, repairing and returning payloads to and from low Earth orbit. SPACEHAB is the first company to commercially develop, own, and operate habitable modules that provide space-based laboratory research facilities and logistics resupply services aboard the Space Shuttle. "This agreement draws upon the proven skills and distinct experience of two leading aerospace companies," said John Friend, Vice President of Strategic Business Planning for USA. "Together, USA and SPACEHAB are well positioned to lead the privatization initiative and commercial utilization of the Space Shuttle." Under the terms of the agreement, USA and SPACEHAB will focus initially on expanding the non-government market for life and materials science operations conducted in the weightless environment of space. The space utilization market will initially be developed using space access provided by USA and commercial SPACEHAB payload services. As the market matures, the relationship will expand to include commercial space services and support to the International Space Station. Having successfully flown five Space Shuttle missions since signing the Space Flight Operations Contract with NASA last September, USA and NASA have begun to study ways to increase the commercial use of the Space Shuttle fleet. As part of this effort, USA is preparing a privatization plan that Congress ordered as a contractual requirement. Using this plan, USA and NASA management are discussing potential paths to increased commercial use of the Shuttle. The agreement with SPACEHAB is viewed as an initial step in this direction. United Space Alliance, LLC, is a Boeing/Lockheed Martin joint venture formed to conduct the Space Flight Operations Contract for NASA. |