Apollo 13 Astronaut James A. Lovell Joins Board of Directors at Space Media Inc.
James A. Lovell has joined the Space Media Inc.(TM)(SMI(TM)) board
of directors, it was announced today by Chairman Dr. Shelley A.
Harrison.
SMI(TM) was formed last spring as a media corporation and
subsidiary under SPACEHAB Inc. to create proprietary
space and technology-themed content for broadcast and Internet
distribution.
Drawing from his 11 years of experience as an astronaut on
numerous history-making missions, including Apollo 13 and the Gemini
program, Lovell will be working on several programming and production
initiatives for SMI(TM) in addition to providing general consultation.
Lovell will also be acting as general spokesperson and promoter for
special projects and events related to SMI(TM).
SMI(TM) announced earlier this year that it owns all multimedia
rights for the first commercial broadcasting studio and multimedia
production facility in space, the Enterprise(TM).
Developed by SPACEHAB and RSC Energia of Russia, the module is to
be launched to the International Space Station in 2003. Most recently,
SMI(TM) has joined with RSC Energia forming a multimedia partnership
to develop multimedia content both for television broadcast and
Internet distribution from the Russian Service Module of the
International Space Station (ISS).
“We are thrilled with the addition of Captain Lovell to our
board,” said Harrison. “In addition to his well-known achievements in
space flight, he adds significant business and media experience to
SMI.”
“Joining the SMI(TM) board of directors is a great opportunity for
me to help further educate the American public as to the many
advancements the U.S. space program has already achieved, as well as
the numerous technological advancements we will continue to see,” said
Lovell.
Handpicked by NASA in 1962, Lovell has accumulated a series of
honors, awards and groundbreaking records from the United States Navy
and NASA Space Program.
During his final space mission in April 1970, Lovell commanded the
infamous Apollo 13 mission, which earned him recognition as the first
man to journey twice to the moon and inspired the Academy
Award-nominated performance by Tom Hanks in Universal Pictures’
blockbuster “Apollo 13.”
Lovell earned his place in history during man’s 1968 maiden voyage
to the moon, as one of the first humans to journey into uncharted
territory while serving as Command Module Pilot and Navigator on
Apollo 8.
In 1965, Lovell and Frank Borman set yet another record as the
first men to maneuver a spacecraft on the history-making, 330-hour
Gemini 7 mission (the first passenger spacecraft). A year later,
Lovell brought the Gemini program to a successful close by commanding
the final Gemini 12 mission.
As a respected and highly decorated United States astronaut and
Naval pilot, with a record 715 hours in space and more than 6,000
hours of flying time, Lovell comes to SMI(TM) from Centel Corp. where
he served as executive vice president until retiring in 1991.
Lovell was chief executive officer of Fisk Telephone Systems Inc.,
which was acquired by Centel in 1980. Prior to Fisk, and immediately
following his Naval retirement, Lovell joined Bay-Houston Towing Co.
in 1973, where he served as president and later as CEO.
Throughout his career, Lovell has accumulated numerous accolades,
recognition and distinguished mentions from various organizations,
including being awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor by
President Clinton in 1995; NASA Exceptional Service Medal; NASA
Service medal; Navy Astronaut Wings; two Navy Flying Crosses; the
National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Special Trustee
Award; and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
In 1967, President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed Lovell as the
official Physical Fitness and Sports consultant for the United States.
Three years later, President Richard Nixon assigned Lovell the
additional duty of chairman of the Council.
SPACEHAB is the world’s leading provider of commercial services
for manned and unmanned missions in space. SPACEHAB is the first
company to commercially develop, own and operate habitable modules
that provide laboratory facilities and logistics aboard NASA’s Space
Shuttles. The company also supports NASA astronaut training at Johnson
Space Center in Houston.
This release contains forward-looking statements that are subject
to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those projected in such statements. Such risks
and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, whether the company
will fully realize the economic benefits under its NASA and other
customer contracts, the timing and mix of Space Shuttle missions, the
successful development and commercialization of new space assets,
technological difficulties, product demand, timing of new contracts,
launches and business, market acceptance risks, the effect of economic
conditions, uncertainty in government funding, the impact of
competition and other risks detailed in the company’s Securities and
Exchange Commission filings.
