Six Launches Scheduled In 2008
Boeing announced Monday the company
recently named veteran NASA space shuttle engineer John P.
Mulholland its new Space Shuttle vice president and program
manager. With more than more than 21 years of experience in space
shuttle propulsion, systems and subsystem design, including 15
years with NASA, Mulholland is responsible for the overall
direction and successful execution of Boeing's Space Shuttle
program.
"John has the perfect blend of engineering expertise and
leadership attributes for the Space Shuttle program," said Brewster
Shaw, Boeing Space Exploration vice president and general manager.
"His deep understanding of the customer will be vital in completing
the remaining shuttle missions and International Space Station
(ISS) construction."
2008 is expected to be a busy year for the space shuttle and its
new leader... with six scheduled launches. "The upcoming launch of
Space Shuttle Atlantis in February will be a complex assembly
mission, and the Boeing shuttle team is poised for success," said
Mulholland.
During the 11-day mission, the STS-122 crew will deliver the
European Space Agency's Columbus Research Laboratory, and Atlantis
will use new microchip technology flow sensors for the first
time.
Supporting United Space Alliance, NASA's prime contractor for
space shuttle operations, Boeing provides design engineering and
support for the shuttle. The space shuttle fleet is scheduled to
retire in 2010 after the ISS is assembled to make way for a new
human-rated spacecraft that will return humans to the moon by
2020.
Prior to his new position, Mulholland directed Boeing's Orbiter
project for nearly two years during which he was responsible for
resolving pre- and in-flight space shuttle engineering anomalies
and maintaining the fleet's mission readiness. Mulholland joined
Boeing in 2002 as the associate program director of Orbiter Vehicle
Engineering and was responsible for space shuttle anomaly
resolution and sustaining engineering.
He worked at NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston, TX
from 1996 to 1999 as a space shuttle vehicle engineering deputy
manager of operations and project engineer. Before joining JSC, he
worked at NASA's White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico where he
was responsible for shuttle propulsion testing and
refurbishment.
Mulholland replaces Steve Oswald, Boeing's new vice president
and general manager of Intelligence and Security Systems.