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10 Feb 2003

Boeing and the Space Shuttle
Space Shuttle Program Support

The Boeing Company is involved with NASA's Space Shuttle program in 
several ways.

The space and defense businesses of Rockwell International, later 
acquired by Boeing, developed and built six space shuttles in total: 
Atlantis, Challenger, Columbia, Discovery, Endeavor and Enterprise. 
(Enterprise was used for approach and landing tests only.)

Boeing's Rocketdyne division provides the Space Shuttle Main Engines.

United Space Alliance (USA) is NASA's prime contractor for operation 
of the space shuttles. USA operates as a standalone company but is 
equally owned by its two member companies, Boeing and Lockheed Martin. 
As the major subcontractor to USA, Boeing integrates shuttle system 
elements and payloads; it also provides operations support services 
and ongoing engineering support.

Since 1987, Boeing has been the prime contractor to SPACEHAB Inc. for
design, maintenance, integration and operation of pressurized, 
habitable modules that are carried in the payload bay of the space 
shuttle to facilitate logistics delivery and science research. 
SPACEHAB modules have been used successfully on 15 shuttle flights. A 
Research Double Module, along with a full complement of science 
payloads, flew on STS-107.


The Investigation

Boeing is committing whatever resources are needed to help NASA and 
the United Space Alliance identify the root cause and determine 
corrective actions. Boeing is making available Shuttle experts as well 
as engineering and scientific resources from across the company as 
they are needed.


Safety

Boeing's NASA Systems team is deeply committed to the technological
excellence and safety that is built into every aspect of our nation's 
human space flight programs. Every day that our people work on the 
shuttle program, their top priority is ensuring the safety of its 
mission crews.  This commitment to safety runs through all of our 
design, manufacturing test, inspection and maintenance processes.


Boeing Statement (Feb. 1, 2003)

The men and women of The Boeing Company salute the bravery and 
dedication of the astronauts who lost their lives in the pursuit of 
discovery and science today. We join with President Bush and NASA 
Administrator O'Keefe in expressing our deep sorrow and condolences to 
the families and loved ones of the shuttle Columbia crewmembers.

We are doing everything possible to support NASA and the United Space
Alliance in their investigation of today's tragedy.

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