Agreement Continues Astrotech's Involvement On Atlas Program

Spacehab, Incorporated announced this week that its Astrotech Space Operations subsidiary has been awarded a one-year contract extension for payload processing services by United Launch Alliance (ULA). The contract is valued at $3.3 million for support of Atlas missions during the one-year period.

Through the extension, Astrotech will continue to provide payload processing services and specialized facilities for ULA's Atlas expendable launch vehicle program from Astrotech's bi-coastal locations: Titusville, FL and California's Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB), California.

The original contract included the period of December 31, 1999 through December 31, 2006 with four one-year option periods for 2007–2010.

"Astrotech has readily supported the commercial Atlas program since 1989 and is pleased to have the opportunity to continue this long-term relationship," said Don White, Astrotech General Manager.

The Company's nine building compound in Titusville includes a Spacecraft Processing Facility designed to accommodate both 4-meter and 5-meter class satellites with weights in excess of 25,000 pounds and payload fairings up to 75 feet long. Construction begins this month at Astrotech's VAFB facilities to expand to 5-meter fairing accommodations.

FMI: www.spacehab.com