Reception at AIAA 2nd Space Exploration Conference offers opportunity to share dreams, plans for implementing nation's Vision for Space Exploration.

HOUSTON – Nov. 20, 2006 – University students, young professionals and first-level managers from NASA and the aerospace industry will be able to meet and share their views on the nation's space exploration program with space leaders from NASA and the aerospace industry at a reception being planned by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) in partnership with Booz Allen Hamilton and Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX).

The Future Exploration Leaders Networking Reception is scheduled to occur on Tuesday, Dec. 5 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Exhibit Hall E of the George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston. Registration for the event begins at 4:30 p.m. The reception is being held in conjunction with the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics' (AIAA) 2nd Space Exploration Conference, which runs Dec 4-6.

"The Vision for Space Exploration will be a part of the national consciousness for decades to come, but many of its current leaders will be retired long before humans return to the moon, Mars and beyond," observed Robert Davis, director of business development for space exploration systems at Northrop Grumman's Integrated Systems sector. "We'd like to help ensure that our current space exploration leaders and those who will follow in their footsteps have an opportunity to take advantage of the best development ideas and technologies that both generations have to offer."

The company hopes the reception will help inform up-and-coming space leaders about their potential roles in human spaceflight and motivate them to take human spaceflight to the next level, added Davis.

The Future Exploration Leaders event will begin in the auditorium on the third floor of the convention center with brief presentations by Pete Worden of NASA, Elon Musk of SpaceX, and officials from Northrop Grumman and Booz Allen Hamilton. The opening remarks will be followed by the networking reception in Exhibit Hall E, and entertainment in the convention center's Small Business Forum Theater.

University students, young professionals, and first-level managers from NASA and the aerospace industry who'd like to participate in this networking event are asked to register online at http://www.aiaa.org/events/exploration/FELreg. Students can also register to attend the 2nd Space Exploration Conference at http://www.aiaa.org for a one-time fee of $25. This fee includes access to sessions, the exhibition, and the Future Exploration Leaders reception, but no other meal-related events.

The Future Exploration Leaders Networking Reception is one of many educational events that Northrop Grumman supports to help ensure that NASA and the nation have the technically trained workforce required to successfully undertake and fulfill the goals of Vision for Space Exploration. The company also sponsors the Northrop Grumman Weightless Flights of Discovery, a teacher development program that helps inspire students to pursue degrees in scientific and technical fields, NASA's Great Moonbuggy Race and the Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge.

The 2nd Space Exploration Conference is a gathering of top leaders from industry, academia, NASA and other government agencies involved in defining and implementing the nation's Vision for Space Exploration. Organized by AIAA, the conference brings together the people, technologies and ideas that will make the Vision a long-term reality. Its special focus on education is designed to inspire the next generation of engineers and space explorers to help fulfill the goals of establishing a permanent human presence on the moon and exploring Mars and beyond.

Northrop Grumman Corporation is a $30 billion global defense and technology company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions in information and services, electronics, aerospace and shipbuilding to government and commercial customers worldwide.

Contact: Brooks McKinney, APR Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems (310) 331-6610 Cell: (310) 864-3785 brooks.mckinney@ngc.com