Boeing and Alenia Spazio to Sign Memorandum of Agreement
In a signing ceremony
to be held today at the Satellite 2001 Conference in Washington,
officials from Boeing and Alenia Spazio, a Finmeccania
company, will sign a Memorandum of Agreement.
As part of the agreement, Boeing has agreed to purchase fuel tanks
from Alenia Spazio for the upper stage of the Boeing Delta II launch
vehicle. Alenia Spazio has agreed to purchase Delta launch services
for its satellite program.
“This agreement offers advantages for both companies,” said Jim
Albaugh, president and chief executive officer of Boeing Space &
Communications. “Boeing will benefit by incorporating Alenia Spazio’s
high-quality fuel tanks into the Delta II rockets, and Alenia Spazio
will benefit by purchasing Delta launch services at competitive prices
for its satellite customers.”
“As our satellite program continues to grow, we are constantly
looking for ways to offer the best available services to our
customers,” said Giuseppe Viriglio, CEO of Alenia Spazio. “This new
agreement will be of particular value to us in our efforts to increase
our offerings to the commercial market.”
In addition to Boeing and Alenia Spazio’s new relationship in the
expendable launch business, both companies are working together in
human space flight.
Boeing, a major subcontractor for the Space Shuttle and the
International Space Station programs, recently concluded payload
integration work for the Alenia Spazio-built “Leonardo” Multi-Purpose
Logistics Module that rode aboard Space Shuttle Mission STS-102. The
module carried a variety of supply racks to the Space Station, and
returned to earth materials used by the Expedition One crew.
Once final arrangements of the agreement have been made,
availability and exchange of launch services and hardware are expected
to begin next year.
Note to Editors: A Boeing media conference and signing ceremony
will be held at 4 p.m. today (Thursday, March 29) in Room 21 of the
Washington D.C. Convention Center. All media are invited to attend.
For information, contact Robert Villanueva, Boeing Communications
714/330-1781.
