RESTON, Va., March 26, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Technical Services Company LLC (RTSC), a subsidiary of Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN), has received a $56.9 million sole source contract extension to support facilities and operations for astronaut training at NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC) and Sonny Carter Training Facility in Houston.

The extension, which is part of an indefinite delivery-indefinite quantity contract, supports operations at the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL) and Space Vehicle Mockup Facility (SVMF). The contract extension, which begins April 1, 2008, and ends Sept. 30, 2010, includes a one-year pre-priced option that could increase the contract value to $78.3 million.

"We focus on providing exceptional products and services and are proud that the Raytheon team continues to offer safe, excellent operations and engineering support in NASA's premier astronaut training facilities," said Blaine Salvador, vice president of the Mission Support Solutions product line of RTSC's Integrated Support Solutions business. "Raytheon's team is proud to do its part to ensure NASA's space shuttle and space station missions are successful, and that astronauts and their flight support teams have the skills and support needed to achieve optimum mission success."

RTSC has about 70 employees supporting both the NBL and SVMF, an operation that provides zero gravity or partial gravity training to astronauts in Space Shuttle and International Space Station programs. In addition to astronaut training, the SVMF supports other engineering activities at JSC.

RTSC provides technology solutions for defense, federal and commercial customers worldwide. RTSC specializes in Mission Support (including installation, integration, maintenance, training and logistics support of air traffic control systems), counter-proliferation and counterterrorism, homeland security solutions, base and range operations and customized engineering and manufacturing.

Raytheon Company, with 2007 sales of $21.3 billion, is a technology leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning more than 85 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as a broad range of mission support services. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 72,000 people worldwide.

  Note to Editors:
  The original contract was awarded to RTSC in February 2003.

  On Aug. 1, 2007, the Johnson Space Center Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory
  celebrated 10 years of astronaut training. Raytheon teams lead both the
  SVMF and NBL.

  Contact:
  Cassandra Watson
  703.295.2424
  cassandra_watson@raytheon.com

SOURCE: Raytheon Company

CONTACT: Cassandra Watson of Raytheon Company, +1-703-295-2424,
cassandra_watson@raytheon.com

Web site: http://www.raytheon.com/