Boeing

The Boeing Company [NYSE:BA] has been named winner of two Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) Contractor Excellence Awards for 1997. The award, announced today by MSFC Director Wayne Littles, may be presented in four categories recognizing outstanding product and service performance in large and small businesses.

The Boeing Company in Huntsville was selected for their performance on the Spacelab program. Through their work in developing, integrating and operating the Spacelab family of pressurized and unpressurized carriers, they have achieved a 100% mission success over the 35 Spacelab missions flown to date.

The Rocketdyne Propulsion & Power business of The Boeing Company was also recognized for business-wide process improvements that have contributed to the successful launch record of the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) during this same period. As of November 19, 1997, the most recent unbroken string of consecutive launches without an engine-related delay has reached 16 Shuttle missions.

"It is truly a mark of distinction that several of our Boeing space businesses continue to be recognized by the industry and our customers for quality and performance," said John A. McLuckey, president of Boeing Space Systems. "With so many of our businesses doing award-winning, value-added work, Boeing cannot fail to meet the challenges of a dynamic space industry leading into the 21st Century.

"As we move into 1998 and the initial assembly of the International Space Station, it's especially appropriate that these two awards should recognize the teams behind the Space Shuttle Main Engine and the Spacelab systems," McLuckey added. "These two programs will be vital to the success of the Space Station."

"When the award-winning Spacelab work was being conducted by McDonnell-Douglas in Huntsville, we at Boeing were continually impressed with the performance of their team," McLuckey said. "That's why we were so happy to welcome them to The Boeing Company in August. We know that they will continue to contribute to a dynamic synergy between all of our businesses and our customers."

Recognition through one of the MSFC Contractor Excellence Awards automatically qualifies award-winning businesses for consideration to receive the prestigious George M. Low Award, NASA's highest honor for a space contractor. Rocketdyne received the 1997 Low Award from NASA earlier this year.