Checkout, Assembly and Payload Processing Services (CAPPS): The Boeing Company holds NASA's CAPPS contract, which provides payload processing for the space shuttle, ISS, expendable launch vehicles and other payload programs at Kennedy Space Center, Fla. Boeing employees provide technical, facilities and engineering support to ensure payload readiness for launch.

Constellation: As NASA plans for the next generation of space travel, Boeing is once again an industry leader in spacecraft development. Under the Constellation Program, NASA has contracted with Boeing to produce the upper stage of Ares I, the crew launch vehicle conceived to launch astronauts on future mission. Boeing is also producing the avionics, or brains, of the rocket. Boeing is also pursuing contracts to work on the Ares V cargo-launching rocket, the Altair lunar lander, and the Earth Departure stage.

Exploration Launch Systems: The Exploration Launch Systems office, located in Huntsville, Ala., supports NASA on strategy and policy on Space Exploration programs procured by the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) in Huntsville. This office, established in April 2006, will lead the proposal capture and program execution teams for Constellation Program pursuits. Exploration Launch Systems also provides overall leadership and integration of programs and functions in Huntsville for Space Exploration.

Using shuttle-derived elements such as a single solid rocket booster, Ares I will deliver astronauts aboard the Orion capsule to low Earth orbit, en route to other destinations, or to the ISS. Also using shuttle-derived components, Ares V will lift heavy payloads (up to 125 metric tons) for cargo shipments to the moon or Mars. The Earth Departure Stage, launched on an Ares V, would carry Altair to a rendezvous point with the Orion spacecraft. Once docked, the Earth Departure Stage would ignite, propelling the crew and its lander toward the moon.

International Space Station (ISS): As the prime contractor, Boeing has been behind the successful design, development, construction and integration of one of the world's most remarkable engineering feats. Boeing also assists NASA in operating the orbital outpost. Boeing built all of the major U.S. elements. Boeing is also responsible for integrating the systems, procedures, and components of 16 participating countries in this worldwide enterprise. Today, Boeing performs much of the sustaining engineering for the ISS.

The ISS is the largest, most complex international scientific project in history and our largest adventure in space to date. Soon to be completed, it will be more than four times as large as the Russian Mir space station, about the size of a football field with the end zones, and include nearly a million pounds of hardware. It houses a six-person multi-national astronaut crew in a structure about the size of a five-bedroom home, or the equivalent size of a Boeing 747 jumbo jet.

The ISS is a U.S. national laboratory, where research is performed to support future human space exploration beyond low Earth orbit. The ISS provides a testbed for new technologies, hardware, proceesses and procedure for long-duration space flight.

Launch Products and Services: The Boeing Launch Products and Services organization was a part of Launch Systems, which ceased to exist when the United Launch Alliance (ULA) began operations on December 1, 2006. United Launch Alliance, which is a 50-50 joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin, provides government launches using the Atlas and Delta launch vehicles. Boeing Launch Products and Services is responsible for two Boeing subsidiaries: Boeing Commercial Space Company (BCSC) and Boeing Launch Services (BSC). BCSC provides the payload accommodations and launch services to the Sea Launch Company, a multinational company in which Boeing is a 40 percent owner. BLS markets and provides Delta launch services to the commercial community and is a customer-focused organization that combines business development, sales, and contracting for Delta commercial launch service customers. It is part of the Space Exploration division of Boeing Integrated Defense Systems and is based in Huntington Beach, Calif. BLS procures these services from ULA.

Space Shuttle: America's space shuttle is the world's only reusable human spacecraft in operation. Boeing is the major subcontractor to NASA's space flight operations contractor, USA. As the original developer and manufacturer of the space shuttle orbiters, Boeing is responsible for orbiter engineering, major modification design, engineering support to operations, including launch, and overall shuttle systems and payload integration services. In addition, Boeing has helped develop upgrades to the shuttle fleet to ensure America safe, reliable and affordable transportation for its astronauts.