When it comes to continuous space habitation in orbit, it’s good to have the support of an exceptional partner. That’s the kind of relationship Boeing has with NASA.

Recently, Boeing had the honor of receiving the Aviation Week’s 2021 Program Excellence Award for Prime Sustainment Work for its role in supporting the International Space Station (ISS).

There’s plenty of prestige and corporate significance associated with these awards.

Established in 2004, the Aviation Week Network’s Program Excellence awards were developed to recognize exceptional leadership, as well as identify best practices and lessons learned.

These awards honor the aerospace and defense industry programs that create organizational success through quality processes, people development, tools, and leadership. Each year, a team of over 200 evaluators score each nominee’s submission packet. Since its inception 17 years ago, 400 programs have been evaluated.

As one of the largest multimedia information and services providers, Aviation Week Network serves roughly 1.7 million professionals globally in the aviation, aerospace, and defense industries.

Customers include the world’s leading aerospace manufacturers and suppliers, airlines, airports, business aviation operators, militaries, governments, and other organizations that serve this worldwide marketplace.

The Program Excellence awards present a unique opportunity amongst companies that are normally in direct competition. It’s a moment for businesses to come together to share common challenges, identify processes, and share knowledge.

There were 35 qualifying nominees for 2021: each company representing the best of the industry, clearly demonstrating exceptional customer service, value creation, and effectiveness in dealing with complex challenges.

Award categories included Prime System Design & Development, Prime Production, Prime Sustainment, Special Projects, Supplier System Design & Development, and Supplier Production.

Boeing, along with other exceptional aerospace heavy hitters, such as Collins Aerospace, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, U.S. Air Force, and the U.S. Navy – provided the nearly 200 evaluators with plenty of material to assess.

Serving as prime contractor for NASA since 1993, Boeing has been responsible for ISS design, development, integration, testing and delivery and continues to sustain the U.S.-built elements.

Boeing’s integration work has given the ISS more flexibility to add new modules, spacecraft and equipment as new uses evolve, including those that will support in-space manufacturing and space tourism.

To keep ISS operating efficiently for many years to come, Boeing has provided new lithium-ion batteries and is providing advanced solar arrays that will complete a full power system upgrade

Boeing-Huntsville employees work closely with NASA at Marshall Space Flight Center and perform sustaining engineering and advanced studies, providing technology advancements, including engineering and manufacturing support for the orbiting laboratory during its more than 20 years of continuous human habitation.

As the ISS enters its third decade, here’s to many more years of partnership.