The National Aeronautics and Space Administration has selected The Boeing Co. to provide design and construction support for the Ares I rocket upper stage.
Ares I will launch astronauts to the International Space Station and eventually help return humans to the moon.
Boeing was awarded a contract to provide support to a NASA-led design team and will be responsible for production of the Ares I upper stage. NASA said Boeing will also manufacture a ground test article, three flight test units and six production flight units to support NASA's flight manifest through 2016. Final assembly of the upper stage will take place at NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans.
NASA said the cost-plus-award-fee contract extends through 2016 with an estimated value of $514.7 million.
Ares I is an in-line, two-stage rocket that will carry the crew exploration vehicle Orion into low Earth orbit. Orion will succeed the space shuttle as NASA's primary vehicle for human exploration during the next decade.
Copyright 2007 by United Press International
Related stories:
Neither Rain Nor Sleet Will Stop NASA's Ares Rockets
Barry Roberts wants to help build a better rocket…one that can fly despite record low temperatures, one that hail and rain can’t stop.
NASA Completes Review Milestone for Ares I First Stage
NASA has completed the preliminary design review for the first stage of the Ares I rocket -- giving overall approval for the agency's technical design approach. This review brings NASA one step closer to developing a new mode of space transportation for astronauts to explore the moon, Mars and beyond.
NASA Successfully Completes First Series of Ares Engine Tests
NASA engineers Thursday successfully completed the first series of tests in the early development of the J-2X engine that will power the upper stages of the Ares I and Ares V rockets, key components of NASA's Constellation Program. Ares I will launch the Orion spacecraft that will take astronauts to the International Space Station and then to the moon by 2020. The Ares V will carry cargo and components into orbit for trips to the moon and later to Mars.
NASA to Begin Testing Engine That Will Power Ares Rockets
In December, NASA will begin testing core components of a rocket engine from the Apollo era. Data from the tests will help NASA build the next generation engine that will power the nation's new Ares launch vehicles on voyages that will send humans to the moon.
NASA to begin developing Ares rockets
The U.S. space agency said it will begin testing core rocket engine components from the Apollo era this month to help build the Ares rocket.
NASA picks Boeing as Ares I contractor
The U.S. space agency has selected The Boeing Co. as the prime contractor to produce, deliver and install avionics systems for the Ares I rocket.
NASA Successfully Completes Engine Hardware Tests for Ares V
NASA engineers have successfully completed testing of subscale main injector hardware, an early step in development of the RS-68 engine that will power the core stage of NASA’s Ares V -- the cargo launch vehicle that will deliver large-scale hardware and systems to space for exploration missions to the moon.
NASA modifies launch vehicle contract
NASA is extending a contract with ATK Thiokol of Brigham City, Utah, to continue developing the first stage for the Ares I crew launch vehicle.