Debra Rahn
Headquarters, Washington, DC 			April 19, 2001
(Phone: 202/358-1638)

Kyle Herring
Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX 
(Phone: 281/483-5111)

Francesco Rea
Italian Space Agency, Rome, Italy
(Phone: 39 335 785 4787)

JOINTLY RELEASED BY NASA AND ASI

RELEASE: 01-76

NASA AND THE ITALIAN SPACE AGENCY SET FRAMEWORK 
FOR POSSIBLE EXTENDED ISS COOPERATION THAT COULD 
RESULT IN AN ITALIAN BUILT HABITATION MODULE

NASA and the Italian Space Agency (ASI) announced their 
agreement on the framework of a potential bilateral 
cooperative agreement, that could result in ASI 
development of a U.S. Habitation Module for the 
International Space Station. This agreement allows the 
U.S. to explore an alternative approach to achieve full 
crew Habitation for the ISS within the constructs of the 
President's FY2002 budget blueprint guidance and budget 
run out. 

The Habitation Module which was to house crew quarters and 
other essential habitability functions for three to four 
additional ISS crew was considered a high cost-risk 
element, and as such, its funding was redirected to 
address cost challenges in maintaining the core U.S. 
assembly elements and high priority ISS objectives. This 
cooperative proposal will be part of NASA's ongoing 
program assessment, which includes possible decisions to 
develop and deploy U.S. elements or enhancements beyond 
completion of the U.S. core,
within available funding.  Successful restoration of a 
habitation capability for six or more crew would 
significantly increase the availability of crew time to 
conduct important research.

NASA and ASI are discussing launch services, additional 
Space Shuttle and ISS astronaut crew opportunities and 
assignments, ISS utilization, and increased visibility for 
the Italian role in the ISS partnership as possible 
consideration for Italy.  Any increase in U.S. research 
utilization to be provided to ASI would be enabled through 
the increased capabilities realized through the provision 
of habitation for an expanded crew complement. 

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between NASA and ASI 
will be required to formally document NASA and ASI's 
respective responsibilities in a legally binding document. 
The Framework signed today would form the basis for a 
potential MOU which NASA and ASI would sign after 
completion of the program assessment and subsequent 
negotiations. 
	
                                     -end-