SPACEHAB, Incorporated, a leading space access provider, announced today that it has signed an agreement with Netherlands-based HE Space Operations to market SPACEHAB’s commercial space services throughout Europe.
Through the representation agreement, the companies committed to work together on European space initiatives addressing government and commercial customers. The arrangement establishes HE Space Operations as a European-registered entity representing SPACEHAB in offering commercial space access on European, United States, Russian and other space vehicles. This agreement is expected to increase SPACEHAB’s business opportunities throughout Europe.
SPACEHAB and HE Space Operations have also entered into a Memorandum of Understanding regarding numerous areas of mutual interest. Benefits include an enhanced global exposure of SPACEHAB’s extensive engineering and operations core competencies (e.g. payload processing, mission integration, and human factors), as well as increased access to SPACEHAB-provided research flight opportunities.
“This strategic alliance will create opportunities for SPACEHAB to provide commercial space access to a broad range of government, industry and academic institutions eager to engage in space-based research, technology development and industrial processing,” said Michael E. Bain, SPACEHAB Chief Operating Officer. “HE Space Operations will help us open European markets to SPACEHAB commercial space services including spacecraft design and development, payload integration and operations, human spaceflight mission operations, as well as turn-key commercial space access on Russia’s Soyuz and Progress, the European Space Agency’s Automated Transfer Vehicle and SPACEHAB’s own commercial carrier, Apex.”
Similarly, a cooperative relationship with SPACEHAB enables HE Space Operations to better leverage their opportunities within the European Space Agency and other government and private sector space initiatives. HE Space Operations seeks to expand their proven and highly successful business model of providing senior technical personnel to government and private sector organizations in support of space research and operations activities.
“This partnership positions SPACEHAB and HE Space Operations to synergistically leverage their respective, and often complementary, core competencies,” stated Scott Millican, HE Space Operations Chief Executive Officer. “Both companies also increase their business opportunities within the European space community.”
SPACEHAB has cultivated an extensive global customer base and has aligned itself with leading international partners within the space industry. Specifically, alliances with German-based EADS Space Transportation, Mitsubishi Corporation of Japan, and Russia’s RSC Energia brought about unique flight assets and services that have successfully served NASA and other customers on numerous shuttle and International Space Station missions. SPACEHAB also recently renewed its representation agreement with EADS for shuttle-based carriers and services. Now, with the HE Space Operations joint collaboration in place, SPACEHAB further broadens its interfaces with the European space industry and commences business relationships with some of Europe’s finest space scientists and engineers.
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).
About HE Space Operations
HE Space Operations (www.hespace.com) is a privately owned independent company that provides consultancy and support services in the field of space. Active for more than 20 years, HE Space Operations has focused its business mainly on the European Space Agency and the European Space Research and Technology Centre in the Netherlands, where it is now one of the largest on-site contractors for human spaceflight, microgravity and exploration. The Company has grown steadily during the past few years, and employs fifty people from eleven nationalities and has recently established a new successful presence in Germany.
The statements in this document may contain forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, trends, and uncertainties that could cause actual results to be materially different from the forward-looking statement. These factors include, but are not limited to, continued government support and funding for key space programs, product performance and market acceptance of products and services, as well as other risk factors and business considerations described in the company’s Securities & Exchange Commission filings including the annual report on Form 10-K. Any forward-looking statements in this document should be evaluated in light of these important risk factors. The Company assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
Contact
SPACEHAB, Inc.
Kimberly Campbell, 713-558-5049
campbell@spacehab.com
or
HE Space Operations BV
Leslie Gale, +31 71 341 7500
lgale@hespace.com
