WASHINGTON, Sept. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA signed a $68.35 million modification to the International Space Station contract with The Boeing Company. The modification provides a system to supply Station electrical power to docked Space Shuttles, enabling the Orbiter to stay longer at the complex.

The Station-Shuttle Power Transfer System (SSPTS) allows the Orbiter to use electricity generated by the Station's solar arrays. The additional Station power supplements Shuttle fuel cells, saving onboard supplies of hydrogen and oxygen.

The Station power will allow Shuttles to dock up to 12 days instead of up to eight days. The longer stay allows additional time for spacewalks, Station maintenance performed by Shuttle crews, Orbiter thermal protection system inspection, contingency repairs, logistics transfers and science operations.

The change includes the design, development, manufacture, qualification, testing, delivery and instructions for installation of the SSPTS hardware, software and support equipment into the Station and Shuttle. The SSPTS will be installed in the first Shuttle in spring 2006. The first flight is targeted for Shuttle mission STS-119, the mission to deliver the final component of the truss and solar array structure that provides the Station's power.

The contract modification culminates with delivery of all SSPTS components, integration and testing of the hardware and software in spring 2007. The work will be performed at Boeing facilities in Houston; Kennedy Space Center, Fla.; Canoga Park, Calif.; Huntington Beach, Calif.; and Seattle. For information about NASA and agency programs on the Web, visit:

                           
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CONTACT: Katherine Trinidad, Headquarters, Washington, +1-202-358-3749, or
James Hartsfield, Johnson Space Center, Houston, +1-281-483-5111, both of
NASA

Web site: http://www.nasa.gov//