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

[Ron Baalke]

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-