Ashtech names Captain James Lovell to board of directors; CEO and explorer bring years of aviation, navigation and corporate experience to precise positioning company.

SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 21, 1996--Ashtech, today announced the appointment of Captain James A. Lovell Jr. to its board of directors.

This appointment advances Ashtech towards its goal to diversify and strengthen its executive leadership and expertise in technology and business.

"As Ashtech moves ahead into the new frontiers of advanced precise positioning technologies and applications, I hope to use my experience in business and exploration to help successfully guide the growth of the company," stated Captain Lovell. "Expansion and evolution into new markets and technologies is not unlike a flight into space."

Said Chuck Boesenberg, CEO and president of Ashtech, "Jim Lovell brings over 35 years of experience as an aviator, navigator, explorer and businessman to Ashtech. We look forward to his guidance and expertise as our company moves toward the 21st century."

Captain Lovell was chosen for the U.S. space program in 1962. Lovell executed various commands in the Gemini Mission Program including pilot on the historic Gemini 7 flight which saw the first rendezvous of two manned spacecraft in 1965 and commander of Gemini 12, the final flight of the Gemini Program.

At the close of this program, Captain Lovell became Command Module Pilot and Navigator on Apollo 8 -- man's maiden voyage to the moon. His fourth and final flight was on the Apollo 13 mission in 1970. As spacecraft commander of that flight, Lovell and his crew successfully modified their lunar module into an effective lifeboat when their cryogenic oxygen system failed.

In 1970, Lovell left the space program to join Bay-Houston Towing Co. where he became president and CEO in 1975. He then furthered his corporate experience by joining Fisk Telephone Systems, in Cambridge, Mass., as president. He later served as executive vice president when Fisk was acquired by Centel Corp. in 1980. Today he is president of Lovell Communications, a business devoted to disseminating information about the United States Space Program.

Captain Lovell attended the University of Wisconsin, graduated from the United States Naval Academy. He also attended the University of Southern California - Aviation Safety School and the Harvard Business School's Advance Management Program.

He has received several honorary doctorates. His awards and honors include the Harmon, Collier & Goddard Aerospace Trophies, the Presidential Medal for Freedom, the French Legion of Honor, NASA Distinguished and Exceptional Service Medals, the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Naval Astronaut Wings, two Navy Distinguished Flying Crosses and most recently the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.

On June 21, 1996, he was awarded the Norman P. Hays award by the Institute of Navigation for outstanding encouragement, inspirations and support contributing to the advancement of navigation.

Lovell is a fellow in the Society of Experimental Test Pilots and a member of the prestigious Golden Eagles.

Lovell co-authored Lost Moon, the story of the courageous mission of Apollo 13, with Jeff Kluger in 1994. The film version, Apollo 13, was released in 1995.

Ashtech, Inc., a telecommunications company, is the leading provider of precision solutions for global positioning and is ISO-9001 certified. Revenues for 1995 were $35.6M and $23.9M with a 7.6% net profit for the first half of 1996. Incorporated in 1987, Ashtech manufactures and markets Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver systems and related subsystems which utilize Navstar satellites to determine position and time information for users worldwide.

Ashtech has headquarters in Sunnyvale, Calif. and maintains a European sales office in Oxford, England, as well as research and development facilities in Moscow. More than 80 international and domestic dealers represent Ashtech products worldwide. Ashtech's main number is 408/524-1400.

CONTACT: Ashtech, Inc.

Sally Kenvin, 408/524-1460

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Miller/Shandwick Technologies

Ann Stowe, 415/962-9550

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