Boeing Adds Hughes, Other Firms to Team

Boeing Co., preparing to bid on a multibillion-dollar space management contract, has expanded its team to include three major companies and a host of medium-sized and smaller innovative firms, the company said. NASA plans to award one company a 10-year contract to provide mission and data services--at reduced costs--for more than 100 existing and future spacecraft. Space operations are currently managed by numerous contractors at five major U.S. centers, including California. The contract will be awarded later this year. The Seattle-based airplane and aerospace giant said it is melding its own expertise with that of Microsoft Corp. Boeing will also join with Lucent Technologies of Murray Hill, N.J., a communications networking and technology leader, and El Segundo-based Hughes Space & Communications Co., a leader in communications satellites.