RpK/Japan Manned Space agreement

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HobbySpace....<br /><br /><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p><b>PRESS RELEASE</b><br /><br />Rocketplane Kistler and Japan Manned Space Systems Corporation Sign MOU for Commercial Launch Support of the ISS Japanese Experiment Module Utilization<br /><br />New York City. April 17, 2007--Rocketplane Kistler, Inc. (RpK) and Japan Manned Space Systems Corporation (JAMSS) announced today that the companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to provide commercial launch service support to Japanese users to the International Space Station (ISS).<br /><br />The Japanese Experiment Module “Kibo”, along with the accompanying Logistics Module, robot arm and the Exposed Facility platform on the back of the module, represent more than 10 years of development work by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). JAXA is committed to finding and supporting both commercial and government users of its facilities on the ISS.<br /><br />JAMSS is a private corporation established to support the operations and utilization of the Japanese assets and resources of the ISS. JAMSS is providing a user-friendly commercial interface between experimental payload developers and users and the ISS infrastructure. One of the key requirements for effective utilization is reliable and affordable transportation to and from the ISS, and the MOU between RpK and JAMSS is intended to fill this need.<br /><br />“With the affordable routine launch services that will be provided by RpK through its K-1 reusable space transportation system and the NASA Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) public-private partnership, we now have all of the elements necessary to provide end-to-end services for all types of ISS users, both domestic and foreign.” said Kazuhide Todome, Managing Director of JAMSS. “Having readily available commercial transportation services to the ISS for both upmass and downmass is c</p></blockquote> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>