@S1-A.ARPA,@MIT-MC.ARPA:ROD@SU-AI.ARPA (08/20/85)
From: Rod Brooks <ROD@su-ai.arpa>
Houston Firm Wins OK for Private Space Platform
WASHINGTON (AP) - A Houston-based company received NASA's approval
today to construct and operate a habitable platform that will be used
by commercial firms to manufacture products in space.
The firm, Space Industries Inc., will receive no federal money for
the project, which is expected to cost $250 million to $500 million.
The platform will operated automatically much of the time, but will
be visited periodically by astronauts for servicing.
Max Faget, president of Space Industries, Inc., said the platform -
35 feet long and 14.5 feet in diameter - should be ready to be
carried into orbit by the shuttle in 1989.
He declined to discuss financing for the venture. NASA said it will
defer payments for hauling two such platforms into space until the
firm begins making money from their operation.
AP-NY-08-20-85 1340EDT
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