The joint venture will offer the services for spaceflight and ground systems under the five-year contract
NASA Headquarters at 300 E Street SW in Washington D.C. (Credit: NASA)
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has awarded a $531m engineering services contract to the Aerodyne and KBR joint venture.
Under the contract, the joint venture will offer engineering services for spaceflight and ground systems, which will comprise the development and validation of new technologies for future space and science missions.
With a five-year base period, the Mechanical Integrated Services and Technology (MIST) II contract includes an option for a six-month extension.
Aerodyne and KBR will mainly execute the contract work at Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) in Greenbelt, Maryland, as well as other NASA centres and locations.
KBR president and CEO Stuart Bradie said: “Space travel and scientific discovery take collaboration.
“KBR currently operates at 11 NASA centres and is one of the world’s largest human spaceflight support organisations. Together, with Aerodyne, we bring a compelling and comprehensive portfolio of expertise to propel NASA to study and explore the universe.”
The engineering services to be delivered by the joint venture will include design, analysis, and verification services as well as technical support for the development of space flight, airborne and ground-based instruments and equipment.
The contract also includes offering research and technology development support services for new NASA missions.
In addition, the joint venture will provide flight operations activities, contamination control and thermal coatings, and optics and optical systems design and analysis.
KBR claims to have delivered similar services under the MIST I contract awarded by the US space agency.
In February last year, the company secured a $400m contract from NASA to deliver intelligent systems research and development support services at the Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley.
The contract involves providing support to the Intelligent Systems Division on scientific research, technologies and applications development.
Under the contract, KBR’s work includes supporting the division with various research domains and the infusion of advanced information systems technology on NASA missions.