Mark Hess
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.
(Phone:  202/358-0902)                          June 3, 1994


RELEASE:  94-89

NASA AND CSA ANNOUNCE SPACE COOPERATION PLAN

   NASA and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) announced today that 
they have reached an agreement, in principle, which will put 
U.S./Canadian space cooperation on a long-term, stable footing. 

   The arrangement between the two space agencies provides for 
expanded and enhanced cooperation in a number of areas such as 
space science, microgravity research and the Mission to Planet 
Earth, and Canada's continuation as a full partner in the 
International Space Station program. 

   "I am very pleased that Canada will remain a full partner in 
the International Space Station program," said NASA Administrator 
Daniel S. Goldin.  "Canada's participation is extremely important 
to the success of this program," he said. 

   CSA will retain responsibility for developing the Mobile 
Servicing System  for the Space Station.  To that end, CSA will 
complete the development of the Space Station Remote Manipulator 
System and the Mobile Remote Servicer Base System.  CSA also will 
complete the detailed design of the Special Purpose Dexterous 
Manipulator (SPDM), but will defer the decision on whether to 
manufacture the SPDM until 1997.

   NASA and CSA also agreed to consider expanded cooperation in 
other areas.  NASA and CSA are exploring cooperation on the 
Radarsat-2 program, building on the already agreed Radarsat-1 
cooperation in which CSA provides the spacecraft and NASA 
contributes a medium class launch.  

   CSA also has proposed two cooperative science small satellite 
(smallsat) missions under Canadian mission management to be 
developed with NASA's participation.  NASA and CSA will establish 
a joint study group to define the science priorities and other 
details for specific cooperative projects.  Based on the 
recommendation of the joint study group, NASA and CSA will pursue 
a detailed agreement where NASA would provide selected experiments 
and up to two small class launches.
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   NASA and CSA also have agreed on new joint microgravity 
activities using DC-9 aircraft and sounding rockets.  This will be 
done on a primarily cooperative basis, with NASA and CSA sharing 
most of the data from the missions. 

   In addition, NASA will provide opportunities for one Canadian 
astronaut flight per year during the Space Shuttle/Mir Space 
Station docking missions and Space Station assembly.
 
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