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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