SPACEHAB AWARDED NASA EXPLORATION
CONTRACT
Company Becomes Key Player in Supporting New Vision for Space
Exploration
Houston, Texas, September 2, 2004 – SPACEHAB, Incorporated (NASDAQ/NMS: SPAB), a leading provider of commercial space services, announced today that it has been awarded a six-month NASA study contract valued at approximately $1.0 million to support the space agency's new exploration initiatives.
"We are excited to be one of the companies selected to define
concepts for accomplishing human lunar exploration," said Michael E. Kearney,
SPACEHAB President and Chief Executive Officer. "Our innovative solutions and
commercial approach will prove valuable to our Nation's Vision for Space Exploration."
In
June 2004, NASA issued a Broad Agency Announcement soliciting proposals that
meet the agency's objectives for lunar exploration. With a multitude of proposals
submitted, SPACEHAB's response for the Concept Exploration and Refinement
solicitation was one of a just a handful selected. In addition to this six-month
contract effort, the Company may be awarded a contract option that includes
an additional six-month effort also valued at nearly $1.0 million.
Per NASA's
specifications, bidders were asked to identify systems that are common or
extensible to Mars missions and other destinations. SPACEHAB's proposal documented
the Company's approach for designing an architecture that took full advantage
of commercial efficiencies; specifically, how private industry can contribute
to the investment in getting people to the moon and elsewhere. The result would
be low program costs, a stimulated economy, and the benefit of applying existing
capabilities and mature technology.
"This competitive award demonstrates our understanding of the
complex challenges of space exploration, NASA's development philosophy, and
the broad spectrum of potentially viable solutions to enable exploration of
the Moon, Mars, and beyond," stated
Michael Bain, Vice President Space Commerce Development. "We are excited
about this opportunity to make a valuable contribution to NASA's space
exploration initiative." added Bain.
About SPACEHAB,
Incorporated
SPACEHAB, Incorporated (www.spacehab.com) is a leading
provider of commercial and government space services with three primary business
units. The Flight Services business unit develops, owns, and operates habitat
and laboratory modules and cargo carriers aboard NASA's Space Shuttles for Space
Station resupply and research purposes. SPACEHAB's Astrotech subsidiary provides
payload processing support services for both commercial and government customers
at company-owned facilities in Florida and California. The Company's Government
Services business unit supports NASA's Johnson Space Center providing configuration
management, product engineering, and support services for both the Space Station
and Space Shuttle programs. Additionally, through The Space Store, Space Media
provides space merchandise to the public and space enthusiasts worldwide (www.thespacestore.com).
The statements in this document may contain "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933
and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such statements are subject
to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially
from those projected in the statements. In addition to those risks and uncertainties
discussed herein, such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to,
whether the Company will fully realize the economic benefits under its U.S. National
Aeronautics and Space Administration ("NASA") and other customer contracts,
whether NASA and other customers will continue to utilize the Company's habitat
modules and related commercial space assets, whether plans to complete the International
Space Station ("ISS") are fulfilled, continued availability and use
of the U.S. Space Shuttle system, technological difficulties, product demand
and market acceptance risks, the effect of economic conditions, uncertainty in
government funding, the impact of competition, delays and uncertainties in future
space shuttle and ISS programs, resolution of the Company's indemnification claim
with NASA arising from the loss of the Columbia orbiter and its crew
during the STS-107 mission, and other risks described in reports filed by the
Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company assumes no obligation
to update these forward-looking statements.
For more information, contact:
Kimberly
Campbell
Vice President
Corporate Marketing and Communications
SPACEHAB, Inc.
Phone 713.558.5049
campbell@spacehab.com
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