Boeing Names Elbon VP International Space Station<br /><br />KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla., September 10, 2003 - Twenty-one year Boeing<br />[NYSE: BA] veteran John Elbon has been named vice president and program<br />manager for the International Space Station (ISS), NASA Systems, for Boeing.<br />Elbon will lead Boeing's efforts as prime integrating contractor to design,<br />develop, test, launch and operate NASA's orbiting laboratory.<br /><br />As prime contractor, Boeing NASA Systems has the central role in every<br />aspect of the ISS designing, testing and building. NASA Systems is also<br />responsible for integrating the systems, procedures, and components of 16<br />participating countries in this worldwide enterprise.<br /><br />"Leading the ISS team is a great honor," noted Elbon. "This program plays<br />such an integral role in the future of human space exploration and<br />scientific advancements for our world - I'm thrilled to be a part of it."<br /><br />Construction of the ISS is the most complex venture ever attempted in space.<br />It will take more than 100 separate elements carried aloft during 88 space<br />flights to assemble the space station. Once complete, the 470-ton structure<br />will house a seven-astronaut crew, in 46,000 cubic feet of pressurized<br />volume - the size of a Boeing 747 jumbo jet.<br /><br />Bruce Melnick, Vice President, Florida Operations for Boeing, praised the<br />promotion of Elbon. "This is great news," he said. "John's leadership will<br />ensure the continued success of the International Space Station program. I<br />can't think of a more deserving individual to fill this position."<br /><br />Prior to his new appointment, which will be based in Houston, Texas, Elbon<br />has served as program manager for the Checkout, Assembly and Payload<br />Processing Services (CAPPS) Contract based at Kennedy Space Center (KSC),<br />Fla. for the past three years.<br /><br />Replacing Elbon is Jim Chilton, who currently serves as CAPPS Director of<br />Mission Management. In his new role, Chilton will be responsible for final<br />assembly and testing of NASA payloads aboard the Space Shuttle and<br />Expendable Launch Vehicle missions. He will also manage shipments of<br />hardware for construction of the International Space Station, seeing ISS to<br />completion and full utilization<br /><br />Elbon replaces Joe Mills, former NASA Systems vice president for Boeing.<br />Mills will lead the company's newest space initiative, the Jupiter Icy Moon<br />Orbiter (JIMO) program. JIMO is part of NASA's initiative to develop nuclear<br />power and electric propulsion technologies that will revolutionize space<br />exploration. Boeing is one of three companies involved in the initial phase<br />of this NASA program.<br /><br />A unit of The Boeing Company, Integrated Defense Systems is one of the<br />world's largest space and defense businesses. Headquartered in St. Louis,<br />Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $25 billion business. It provides<br />systems solutions to its global military, government and commercial<br />customers. It is a leading provider of intelligence, surveillance and<br />reconnaissance; the world's largest military aircraft manufacturer; the<br />world's largest satellite manufacturer and a leading provider of space-based<br />communications; the primary systems integrator for U.S. missile defense;<br />NASA's largest contractor; and a global leader in launch services.<br /><br />###<br /><br />Contact:<br />Tina Lange<br />Boeing Florida Operations<br />321-264-8582