Boeing

ST. LOUIS, Feb. 25, 2008 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] will draw on its space exploration experience as well as innovative commercial and defense practices to compete for NASA's Facilities Development and Operations Contract (FDOC).

Administered by NASA's Johnson Space Center, the contract includes the development, sustaining engineering, operations and maintenance of the training, flight planning, reconfiguration and control center facilities for current human spaceflight programs. The contract also includes developing and maintaining the software applications used in those facilities. FDOC consolidates a portion of NASA's Space Program Operations and Mission Support Operations contracts.

NASA is scheduled to select a contractor in November, with work starting in January 2009. The four-year contract will have two one-year options that could extend the agreement to 2014.

"Our goal is to help NASA implement technical innovations that improve quality and meet their aggressive cost-reduction goals while maintaining high safety standards," said Brewster Shaw, former astronaut and Boeing Space Exploration vice president and general manager.

If selected, Boeing will work with NASA to reduce the operational cost of the control center, training and reconfiguration facilities that support NASA's Space Shuttle, International Space Station (ISS) and Constellation programs. The FDOC consolidates efforts across facilities and reduces costs without compromising performance. NASA plans to reduce Constellation operations by 50 percent of the cost on the Space Shuttle program and to operate the ISS for 30 percent less.

"With the importance of ongoing mission operations and training, we really want the current work force that will transition to FDOC to stay focused," said Peggy Thomas, Boeing FDOC program manager and director of ISS avionics and software. "At the same time, we will bring innovative management and technical approaches that will enable the work force to meet current mission commitments as well as have the skills and tools to support the Constellation Program."

Boeing operates one of the world's largest, most diverse global supplier networks in support of its space, commercial and defense programs. Through its supplier network, Boeing can ensure NASA benefits from the latest technologies as well as improve quality, cost and delivery schedules.