"We're targeting mass markets that were unavailable where we operating just from the shuttle," Harrison said. An orbiting laboratory for microgravity research will house corporate experiments. Spacehab, which already owns and operates pressurized laboratory modules for the space shuttle payload bay, already works with biotechnology companies needing orbital labs. The ISS module will also serve as a broadcast station for television and internet news, education, and entertainment about space.

"We have a new place to go to -- that's space," Harrison said. "We want a broad participation in it. The best we can do is give a virtual trip to space and we can do that through internet."

The Enterprise will attach to the Zarya module, already in orbit and attached to the U.S.-built Unity. But the oft-delayed Russian-built service module, which will house the crew, must go up first in order for the Enterprise to be of any use. Launch of the module has been repeatedly delayed due to design problems with the module and launch problems both in Russia and the United States.

Spacehab went to the Russians because they had expertise in space stations and were financially attractive, Harrison said. Although the whole program, including launch, will cost about $100 million, Spacehab's partnership with Energia means Spacehab only has to come up with half that. Energia will construct the module and provide a Zenet rocket for launch.

"Others can report the news in space. Spacehab will be making the news in space."

"We went shopping and we're working there because we think we'll get the best value," Harrison said.

RSC Energia also had an essential commodity -- a close relationship with the RSA.

"Boeing certainly has the capability to build the module, but it doesn't have the rights to attach to the ISS," Spacehab President David Rossi said. "Energia. . .gave us that access to RSA."

Despite recent failures of Energia's Proton rocket, Harrison said the Russians have "a proud legacy" in the space industry, particularly in space stations.

"I think they're getting a bad rap," Harrison said. Initial plans call for Russian rockets to also handle re-supply for the module, but the company is open to using launch services from any company or from NASA's shuttle fleet.

NASA could not be reached for immediate comment, but Harrison said he had talked to Administrator Dan Goldin on Thursday and his response was "very positive."

In its initial operation, Enterprise will get one full-time cosmonaut from the RSA to run its media and science tasks. The company hopes to have more staff available eventually, in order to provide a 24-hour supply of educational and news media about space.

"There are so many things that people would like to ask a person in space," Harrison said to a room of a dozen reporters. "All they get to hear is what you fellas ask an astronaut or a cosmonaut at a briefing."

The Enterprise website will offer "unique content," Harrison said. "Others can report the news in space. Spacehab will be making the news in space."

While Harrison spent much of the hour press conference exploring all the possibilities of a space-based website, he admitted that biotech research would still play "an important part" in generating profit for the module. He said that delays in the shuttle launch schedule has left the company with a waiting list of clients who would like to fly experiments on Spacehab's shuttle laboratory.

"Given the opportunity to fly both on the shuttle and now on the station, the world will begin to see how valuable this incubator for technology will be," Harrison said. He said the company was calling for a massive international project to identify all the proteins in the human body, similar to the Human Genome project, which is doing the same thing with DNA.

Previous Spacehab experiments have sought information about the molecular structure of proteins by growing protein crystals that have fewer flaws than crystals grown on Earth.

Although the ISS program has been plagued by delays and despite what he acknowledged as "tough" launch costs, Harrison was doggedly optimistic in the face of reporters' questions.

"That's a challenge," he said. "But I feel that within some tolerance of those 24 months, we can get it up there."