ZHUKOVSKY, Moscow region. Aug 27 (Interfax) - Boeing and the Khrunichev Space Research and Production Center have signed an agreement on extending a contract for maintaining the operation of the Zarya Functional Cargo Block (FGB) of the International Space Station (ISS).
The parties signed the agreement on the first day of the business program of the MAKS 2019 international aerospace show on Tuesday, an Interfax correspondent reported.
"The companies have reached an agreement that the Khrunichev Center will supply equipment replaceable in orbit to maintain the Zarya FGB operations and modernize its design to expand its technical capabilities during the 2021 to 2024 time period," Khrunichev said.
The parties signed the agreement on continued cooperation under the ISS program at Roscosmos's display.
"The continued operation of the ISS is a crucial element for maintaining international cooperation on space exploration. The new agreement confirms a successful partnership that will continue to promote the development of space activities in the interests of the global community," Khrunichev CEO Alexei Varochko said after the parties signed the agreement.
Sergei Kravchenko, Boeing's representative in Russia and the CIS, said the ISS "serves as an unprecedented example of global cooperation between Russia, the U.S. and 13 other countries, which Boeing is proud to support as the ISS primary integrator on the American side."
"In partnership with the Khrunichev Center, we are happy to continue making our contribution to this major international project that is of decisive significance for space exploration," he said.
After the parties signed the agreement, the Khrunichev Center was officially presented with the Performance Excellence Award 2018, which Boeing had announced before.
Boeing presents this award to its suppliers for full compliance with production quality standards and for meeting product delivery deadlines. The Khrunichev Center was awarded best supplier of 2018 for ensuring the operation, modernization and completion of orbit-replaceable equipment for the Zarya FGB.
The two companies have worked together under the ISS program since 1995. Khrunichev manufactured the Zarya FGB under a contract with Boeing and successfully launched it from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on board a Proton launch vehicle in 1998.
Boeing and Khrunichev signed a contract to extend the Zarya operation 15 years later, in 2013.