NASA has made the announcement that they have awarded a major contract to Boeing Co. worth $799.5 million for a moon rocket.
The contract states that Boeing must produce an avionics system to control the Areas 1 rocket which will be used to send astronauts to the moon once again.
The Orion crew exploration vehicle is currently planned to go into orbit by the year 2020 and this wraps things up going forward as thi swas the final major contract to be awarded.
NASA has given out $5 billion in contracts for different elements of the Ares 1. Other companies awarded contracts include United Technologies Corp, Pratt & Whitney, and Alliant Techsystems Inc.
The avionics Boeing must produce are considered the most important part of the Ares 1 rocket as it is basically the brains of the rocket. It will provide, control, guidance, and navigation of the rocket until it reaches orbit. It must also manage the health of the vehicle.
Boeing stated that 100 technical personnel will be hired to help out NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in putting it all together.