APOLLO
13 ASTRONAUT JAMES A. LOVELL JOINS BOARD OF DIRECTORS AT SPACE MEDIA INC.
Highly
Decorated U.S. Astronaut Joins SMI Board to Aid in Programming and Production
of Major SMI Projects
Washington D.C, October 12, 2000 — James A. Lovell has joined the Space Media, Inc.™ (SMI™) board of directors, it was announced today by Chairman Dr. Shelley A. Harrison. SMI™ was formed last spring as a media corporation and subsidiary under SPACEHAB, Inc. (NASDAQ:SPAB) to create proprietary space and technology-themed content for broadcast and Internet distribution.
Drawing from his 11 years of experience as an astronaut on numerous history making missions, including Apollo 13 and the Gemini program, Lovell will be working on several programming and production initiatives for SMI™ in addition to providing general consultation. Lovell will also be acting as general spokesperson and promoter for special projects and events related to SMI™.
SMI™ announced earlier this year that it owns all multimedia rights for the first commercial broadcasting studio and multimedia production facility in space, the Enterprise. Developed by SPACEHAB and RSC Energia of Russia, the module is to be launched to the International Space Station in 2003. Most recently, SMI™ has joined with RSC Energia forming a multimedia partnership to develop multimedia content both for television broadcast and Internet distribution from the Russian Service Module of the International Space Station (ISS).
"We are thrilled with the addition of Captain Lovell to our board," said Harrison. "In addition to his well-known achievements in space flight, he adds significant business and media experience to SMI.""Joining the SMI™ board of directors is a great opportunity for me to help further educate the American public as to the many advancements the U.S. space program has already achieved as well as the numerous technological advancements we will continue to see," said Lovell.
Hand picked by NASA in 1962, Lovell has accumulated a series of honors, awards and ground-breaking records from the United States Navy and NASA Space Program. During his final space mission in April 1970, Lovell commanded the infamous Apollo 13 mission, which earned him recognition as the first man to journey twice to the moon, and inspired the Academy Award nominated performance by Tom Hanks in Universal Pictures' blockbuster "Apollo 13."
Lovell earned his place in history during man's 1968 maiden voyage to the moon, as one of the first humans to journey into uncharted territory while serving as Command Module Pilot and Navigator on Apollo 8. In 1965, Lovell and Frank Borman set yet another record as the first men to maneuver a spacecraft on the history making, 330-hour Gemini 7 mission (the first passenger spacecraft). A year later, Lovell brought the Gemini program to a successful close by commanding the final Gemini 12 mission.
As a respected and highly decorated United States astronaut and Naval pilot, with a record 715 hours in space and more than 6,000 hours of flying time, Lovell comes to SMI™ from Centel Corporation where he served as Executive Vice President until retiring in 1991. Lovell was CEO of Fisk Telephone Systems, Inc. which was acquired by Centel Corp. in 1980. Prior to Fisk, and immediately following his Naval retirement, Lovell joined Bay-Houston Towing Company in 1973, where he served as President and later as CEO.
Throughout his career, Lovell has accumulated numerous accolades, recognition and distinguished mentions from various organizations including being awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor by President Clinton in 1995; NASA Exceptional Service Medal; NASA Service medal; Navy Astronaut Wings; two Navy Flying Crosses; the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Special Trustee Award; and the Presidential Medal for Freedom. In 1967, President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed Lovell as the official Physical Fitness and Sports consultant for the United States. Three years later, President Richard Nixon assigned Lovell the additional duty of Chairman of the Council.
SPACEHAB is the world's leading provider of commercial services for manned and unmanned missions in space. SPACEHAB is the first company to commercially develop, own and operate habitable modules that provide laboratory facilities and logistics aboard NASA's Space Shuttles. The company also supports NASA astronaut training at Johnson Space Center in Houston.
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This release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in such statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, whether the company will fully realize the economic benefits under its NASA and other customer contracts, the timing and mix of Space Shuttle missions, the successful development and commercialization of new space assets, technological difficulties, product demand, timing of new contracts, launches and business, market acceptance risks, the effect of economic conditions, uncertainty in government funding, the impact of competition, and other risks detailed in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.