International Space Station: Teaming Agreement Signed Between Boeing And Alenia Spazio

Representatives of The Boeing Company and Alenia Spazio signed a teaming agreement to reinforce their
ongoing commitment to the future of the International Space Station (ISS).
This agreement establishes the framework for present and future ISS
opportunities and represents a new era of cooperation for the two companies.

“Boeing involvement with Alenia Spazio provides an excellent opportunity
to integrate substantial competencies and focus on creating best-value
solutions for our customers,” said Brewster Shaw, Boeing ISS vice president
and general manager.

“Boeing and Alenia Spazio, joining their know-how, have established, with
this agreement, a promising base for real and effective process optimization
during the exploitation phase of the ISS, both for short-mid term operations
and for a long term innovative industrial approach,” said Paulo Piantella,
vice president, Market Strategy Directorate.

Under the teaming agreement, Boeing and Alenia Spazio will expand their
efforts, ensuring an integrated approach for the long-term support of ISS.
The agreement comprises a range of logistics support activities, effective
utilization and implementation of the Alenia Spazio-designed and -built Multi-
Purpose Logistics Module, and supplies a framework for future space-related
initiatives.

Alenia Spazio is prime contractor for most of the programs managed through
the Italian Space Agency, and as such, participates with a primary role in a
majority of the projects organized by the European Space Agency.

Boeing is NASA’s prime contractor to design, develop, manufacture and
assemble the Space Station.
ISS is orbiting overhead — visible from Earth in
the night sky.
The first two modules, Zarya and Unity, were launched and
assembled in orbit in late 1998.

ISS is the largest international space venture ever undertaken and a joint
effort of 16 countries.

When fully assembled in 2004, it will house a crew of seven — working in
46,000 cubic feet of pressured volume spread across six laboratories, two
habitation modules, and two logistics modules.

The next scheduled ISS assembly launch is Zvezda, the Russian Service
Module, aboard a Russian Proton rocket.
Zvezda is currently at Baikonur
undergoing pre-launch test and check-out.
The first astronaut crew,
Expedition One, will be brought to ISS later this year for their three-month
stay.
The U.S. Laboratory will be launched aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis in
early 2001.