Boeing will bid for a Nasa contract to provide technical support including the analysis and physical processing of pressurised cargo and flight crew equipment for the International Space Station (ISS).

The contract also covers launch preparations and post-landing activities related to processing the flight crew equipment.

Boeing’s capture team lead for the contract Brad Cothran said that Boeing’s experience with the International Space Station allowed it to provide an offer that supported Nasa’s priorities for safety, mission success and innovation.

At present, Boeing is designing and building all the major US elements of the station, along with integration of new hardware and software components including ones from international partners.

Nasa will select a contractor for the three-year project by September 2010 and work will begin in January 2011.