Boeing established
an integrated Orbital Space Program office today, headquartered in Huntsville,
Ala. that will provide innovative solutions for NASA and support a robust
future for human space flight.
The Boeing Orbital Space Program office includes the Orbital Space Plane
(OSP) and Alternate Access to Station (AAS) programs. The Orbital Space
Program offers a synergistic approach to developing an integrated architecture
sustaining the International Space Station and providing a foundation for the
extension of human space flight beyond low Earth orbit. Boeing has designed
and produced almost every major human spacecraft for NASA.
“We will provide best of industry solutions in support of both Orbital
Space Plane and Assured Access to Station,” said Mike Mott, vice president,
NASA Systems, for Boeing. “Our goal by combining these programs under a
single, integrated program office is to benefit from their inherent synergy
and leverage the best solution possible in the competition to produce the
Orbital Space Plane.”
Charles “Chuck” Allen has been selected as Vice President/Program Manager,
Orbital Space Program, for Boeing. Allen comes to this assignment from his
current position as Vice President/Program Director of the Army Systems
Comanche Program Office. He has been responsible for leading the RAH-66
Comanche helicopter program for the Boeing Sikorsky Joint Program Office team.
Allen holds a bachelor’s degree from Rice University and a master’s degree in
business administration from the University of California at Los Angeles.
“Chuck is a great addition to the NASA Systems team, bringing a wealth of
flight test and management experience to this new assignment,” Mott added.
The Orbital Space Plane and Alternate Access to Station programs are
managed by NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) in Huntsville. Boeing
Huntsville has a long legacy of providing technology solutions for our
nation’s space program. The establishment of the Orbital Space Program office
in Huntsville is another example of Boeing’s continued commitment to the local
area and doing what is best for the NASA customer.
The OSP is envisioned to be a multipurpose spacecraft that will perform
crew rescue vehicle (CRV) and crew transfer vehicle (CTV) missions for the
International Space Station. The OSP will be designed to be compatible with
current expendable rockets and future reusable launch vehicles. Boeing
Phantom Works is leading the Phase A study effort for OSP. AAS is a multi-
year effort enabling commercial resupply services for the ISS to supplement
the Space Shuttle and other international ISS cargo delivery vehicles.
A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is one of
the world’s largest space and defense businesses. Headquartered in St. Louis,
Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $25 billion business. It provides
systems solutions to its global military, government and commercial customers.
It is a leading provider of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; the
world’s largest military aircraft manufacturer; the world’s largest satellite
manufacturer and a leading provider of space-based communications; the primary
systems integrator for U.S. missile defense; NASA’s largest contractor; and a
global leader in launch services.
