May 8, 2013 Mike Curie Kennedy Space Center, Fla. 321-867-2468 michael.curie@nasa.gov Rachel Kraft Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1101 rachel.h.kraft@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- To subscribe to the list, send a message to: ksc-subscribe@newsletters.nasa.gov To remove your address from the list, send a message to: ksc-unsubscribe@newsletters.nasa.gov
