[meteorite-list] NASA Awards Contract to Modify Mobile Launcher

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Wed, 8 May 2013 16:15:46 -0700 (PDT)
Message-ID: <201305082315.r48NFk8m026476_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

May 8, 2013

Rachel Kraft
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1100
rachel.h.kraft at nasa.gov

Michael Curie
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468
michael.curie at nasa.gov

CONTRACT RELEASE: C13-023

NASA AWARDS CONTRACT TO MODIFY MOBILE LAUNCHER

WASHINGTON -- NASA has awarded a contract to J.P. Donovan Construction
Inc. of Rockledge, Fla., to modify the mobile launcher that will
enable the agency's Space Launch System (SLS) heavy-lift rocket to
send humans to an asteroid, Mars and other new destinations in the
solar system.

The work under this firm fixed-price $20.7 million contract will begin
in June and be completed in 18 months.

The mobile launcher is located at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in
Florida. Kennedy is expanding its capabilities to support the SLS
rocket and ground support infrastructure. The modifications will
enable the mobile launcher to meet vehicle processing deadlines and
the launch manifest for SLS.

SLS' first launch is scheduled for 2017. It will be a flight test to
send an uncrewed Orion spacecraft into lunar orbit. NASA's asteroid
initiative, proposed in the agency's budget request for fiscal year
2014, would use SLS and Orion to send astronauts to study a small
asteroid that will have been redirected robotically to a stable orbit
near the moon.

Midwest Steel Inc. of Detroit will be a major subcontractor to J.P.
Donovan Construction.

For more information about NASA missions and programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov

-end-
Received on Wed 08 May 2013 07:15:46 PM PDT