NASA Awards Payload
Processing Contract
(22 June 2007) NASA's Launch Services
Program has awarded a pair of indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contracts
to Astrotech Space Operations in Titusville, Fla., and Spaceport Systems
International in Colorado Springs, Colo.
The companies will
provide the necessary facilities to perform payload processing services for
NASA missions launching from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. The aggregate
value of available firm-fixed-price orders under the two contracts could be
worth up to US$ 35 million over a maximum of four years, which includes two
1-year options.
Astrotech and Spaceport Systems International will use
their respective Vandenberg facilities to support the final assembly of
spacecraft and encapsulate them before they are taken to the launch pad. While
processing requirements differ depending on the spacecraft and mission, they
usually include final assembly and testing, integration with a third stage or
adapter, propellant loading and spin balancing. Such tasks typically begin
about three months before the scheduled launch.
Astrotech is a
subsidiary of Spacehab, Inc., Webster, Texas, and operates payload processing
facilities in Titusville and at Vandenberg. The company was incorporated in
1984 as a commercial launch payload processor.
Spaceport Systems
International is in partnership with ITT Corporation, White Plains, N.Y. The
company's facilities are used to process payloads for NASA and commercial
interests.
(source: NASA)