Boeing Launches Orbital Space Plane Design<br /><br /><br /> ST. LOUIS, April 18, 2003 - Boeing [NYSE: BA] engineers are designing the<br />Orbital Space Plane (OSP) for NASA utilizing nearly 50 years of expertise in<br />producing spacecraft.<br /><br />Boeing is one of three contractor teams developing proposals for the program<br />which includes the spacecraft, ground operations and all supporting<br />technologies needed to conduct missions to and from the International Space<br />Station.<br /><br />Boeing was awarded a $45 million contract modification on the NASA Space<br />Launch Initiative program for work on the space plane. The modification<br />extends the current contract through July 2004.<br /><br />The Orbital Space Plane will be a multipurpose spacecraft that can perform<br />crew rescue vehicle and crew transfer vehicle missions for the space<br />station. It will be compatible with current expendable rockets and future<br />reusable launch vehicles and will seat four to six people.<br /><br />"Our experience from Mercury to Gemini, from Apollo to the space shuttle,<br />gives us significant knowledge base and proficiency to build upon, " said<br />Volker Roth, program manager for Boeing on this program program in<br />Huntsville, Ala. "We are drawing on the best of industry for this team."<br /><br />OSP also draws upon research conducted with the X-37 built by Phantom Works,<br />the research and development unit of Boeing. The X-37 serves as a test bed<br />for 40 airframe, propulsion and operational technologies designed to make<br />space transportation more affordable.<br /><br />Under the Space Launch Initiative, Boeing will determine a technical and<br />program approach for a future Orbital Space Plane. The concept definition<br />phase is scheduled to last 16 months and includes a series of systems<br />engineering trade studies. The results will be more specific definitions and<br />solutions based on requirements set by NASA. This includes program elements,<br />estimated life cycle cost for various alternatives and vehicle design<br />recommendations.<br /><br />"Space is a challenging environment," added Roth. "The Orbital Space Plane<br />will be designed to provide safe, reliable and affordable access to space<br />for humans."<br /><br />NASA is expected to proceed with full-scale development of the OSP before<br />the end of 2004. In addition to this contract effort, Boeing is preparing to<br />compete for the next phase of the OSP in 2004.<br /><br />Boeing Phantom Works will manage the Orbital Space Plane Phase A Program<br />from facilities in Huntsville, Ala., and will employ about 120 persons in<br />Houston, Huntington Beach, Calif., and the Kennedy Space Center, Fla.<br /><br />A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is one of<br />the world's largest space and defense businesses. Headquartered in St.<br />Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $25 billion business. It<br />provides systems solutions to its global military, government and commercial<br />customers. It is a leading provider of intelligence, surveillance and<br />reconnaissance; the world's largest military aircraft manufacturer; the<br />world's largest satellite manufacturer and a leading provider of space-based<br />communications; the primary systems integrator for U.S. missile defense;<br />NASA's largest contractor; and a global leader in launch services.<br /><br />###<br /><br />Contact:<br />Ed Memi<br />NASA Systems<br />(281) 226-4029<br />edmund.g.memi@boeing.com<br /><br />Glen Golightly<br />Phantom Works<br />(714) 372-4742<br />robert.g.golightly@beoing.com