Mark Hess

Headquarters, Washington, D.C. April 2, 1990

(Phone: 202/453-4164) 2 P.M. EDT

RELEASE: 90-47

NASA AND ROCKWELL SIGN AGREEMENT FOR EDO PALLET

NASA and Rockwell International Corp., Space

Transportation System Division, Downey, Calif., have signed a
memorandum of agreement under which Rockwell will produce
commercially a cryogenic pallet, a major element of NASA's
extended duration orbiter (EDO) program to extend Space Shuttle
missions up to 16 days.

The EDO cryogenic pallet holds spherical tanks of liquid

hydrogen and liquid oxygen, valve panels and avionics boxes.
When installed in the back of the orbiter's payload bay, the
pallet will feed additional cryogenic fluids to the orbiter's
electricity-generating fuel cells, thereby extending the
vehicle's normal mission time from 8 to 16 days. The first EDO
mission (13 days) is scheduled aboard Columbia in March 1992.

Under terms of the agreement, Rockwell will fund the

design and construction of the EDO cryogenic pallet. NASA will
reimburse Rockwell in 3 yearly installments after the pallet
has been delivered in December 1991. NASA will offer the use
of the EDO mission kit as an optional service to all Shuttle
customers. Specific details of the cost to Shuttle customers
are to be negotiated.

Rockwell is developing the 16-day EDO mission capability,

including the cryogenic pallet and other modifications to the
orbiter Columbia, under terms of a June 1988 amendment to its
existing NASA/Rockwell Shuttle orbiter contract. These other
modifications include a regenerative carbon dioxide removal
system, a new waste collector system, additional nitrogen tanks
and crew cabin improvements for equipment storage.

- end -

TO: MDS/PRA Group

1615 L Street, N.W. - Suite 100
Washington, D.C. 20036

DATE & TIME: MONDAY, APRIL 2, 1990

ORDERED BY: Edward Campion
NASA Headquarters/LMD
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20546 PHONE: 202/453-8400

PROJECT TITLE: Release No: 90-47

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