Lockheed Martin announced today, in partnership with the State of Texas, its plans to locate its Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) program office in Houston, Texas, as well as systems engineering, software development and qualification testing, if the corporation is successful in its bid to provide the next generation crew transportation system for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

The CEV, an advanced crew capsule design, is a key element of NASA's Vision for Space Exploration, and will transport crew members to and from the International Space Station, the moon and beyond. Lockheed Martin is leading a premier industry team that is competing to help NASA develop and produce the CEV. Its teammates include Honeywell, Orbital, United Space Alliance and Hamilton Sundstrand.

"We are extremely pleased to have the opportunity to partner with the State of Texas in support of the CEV program as NASA ushers in a bold, new era of human exploration for our nation," said John Karas, vice president of space exploration for Lockheed Martin. "As we looked closely at the significant benefits of performing the engineering, software development and qualification testing in Houston adjacent to NASA's Johnson Space Center, the decision about where to perform this critical work for CEV became quite clear. Utilizing the existing facilities and experienced human spaceflight workforce in the Houston area provides significant cost savings and schedule assurance, reduces risks, and embraces the partnership between NASA and industry that will be vital to a smooth transition from Shuttle's retirement to the operational success of CEV."

Lockheed Martin has established an Exploration Development Lab near the Johnson Space Center (JSC) where a software development test bed, a human rated avionics lab, and a full scale mockup of the CEV with cockpit are being used early in the program to reduce risk in critical path elements. The JSC community, including NASA, Lockheed

Martin and its teammates, possesses the skilled workforce and facilities needed to deliver a reliable, safe and cost effective CEV for NASA and the nation. By co-locating its CEV program office at JSC, Lockheed Martin will focus its support to NASA in the areas of program management, requirements development, software development, avionics, human factors, and system qualification testing.

System qualification testing will involve the use of the test facilities at JSC, which include test chambers as well as the CEV Systems Integration Lab. During development of the CEV, and as the program progresses from simulations in the lab to flight hardware, the JSC facilities will be used for integration testing. Synergies inherent to this approach can add significant value, and provide cost savings and efficiencies to the CEV program over the multi-decade life of NASA's next generation crew transportation system. The State of Texas has proposed incentives for Lockheed Martin and the CEV program to cover training, infrastructure, facility improvements and equipment which would provide continued economic strength and vitality for the area and a highly skilled workforce engaged in NASA's next generation space program for decades to come.

"Since Lockheed Martin established their presence in Bay Area Houston, they have become respected for their commitment to this community through education, economic development and innovative partnerships contributing to the success of this region," said Jim Reinhartsen, president of the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership. "Community champions are often defined solely by the dollars they give, but Lockheed Martin goes far beyond that by providing leadership in a community of leaders. They are truly community partners in every sense of the word."

Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company is one of the major operating units of Lockheed Martin Corporation. Space Systems designs, develops, tests, manufactures and operates a variety of advanced technology systems for military, civil and commercial customers. Chief products include a full range of space launch systems, including heavy-lift capability, ground systems, remote sensing and communications satellites for commercial and government customers, advanced space observatories and interplanetary spacecraft, fleet ballistic missiles and missile defense systems.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 135,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2005 sales of $37.2 billion.

Media Contact: Joan Underwood, Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company Office 303-971-7398; Mobile 303-594-7073; Pager 800-745-8198 email, joan.b.underwood@lmco.com

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SOURCE: Lockheed Martin