Michoud Assembly Facility

NASA Administrator Announces New Marshall Space Flight Center Director

Retrieved on: 
Monday, February 5, 2024

WASHINGTON, Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA Administrator Bill Nelson on Monday named Joseph Pelfrey director of the agency's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, effective immediately.

Key Points: 
  • WASHINGTON, Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA Administrator Bill Nelson on Monday named Joseph Pelfrey director of the agency's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, effective immediately.
  • "Joseph is a respected leader who shares the passion for innovation and exploration at NASA Marshall.
  • As center director, he will lead the entire Marshall workforce, which includes a world-renowned team of scientists, engineers, and technologists who have a hand in nearly every NASA mission," said Nelson.
  • He also served as manager for the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services Project at Marshall and the Exploration and Space Transportation Development Office in the Flight Programs and Partnerships Office.

State and City Representatives Meet with Sumitomo Machinery Corporation of America's Leadership Team to Discuss Future Growth Opportunities

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, August 2, 2023

CHESAPEAKE, Va., Aug. 2, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The Sumitomo Drives Technology Executive Team met with a delegation of esteemed government officials from the Commonwealth of Virginia, which included Virginia's Secretary of Commerce and Trade, Caren Merrick, and Deputy Secretary of Commerce & Trade, Nicole Riley. Also in attendance were Steven Wright, Kerstin Plarr, Ben White, and Lloyd Jackson, representing Chesapeake Economic Development, and Cliff Copley from the Hampton Roads Alliance. The group toured the 350,000 square feet Chesapeake manufacturing facility, which also serves as the North American Headquarters for the company. The visit focused on future growth opportunities for Sumitomo Drive Technologies in the Hampton Roads area.

Key Points: 
  • The group toured the 350,000 square feet Chesapeake manufacturing facility, which also serves as the North American Headquarters for the company.
  • The visit focused on future growth opportunities for Sumitomo Drive Technologies in the Hampton Roads area.
  • Sumitomo Drive Technologies has been a significant player in the power transmission industry for years, fostering economic growth in its operating regions.
  • With the insights and discussions from this visit, Sumitomo looks forward to expanding its operations further, contributing to Virginia's economic landscape, and continuing its collaborations with city, state, and regional officials for future growth opportunities.

Boeing-Built Space Launch System Core Stage Powers First NASA Artemis Mission to Moon

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, November 16, 2022

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla., Nov. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA's Space Launch System rocket, powered by the Boeing [NYSE: BA] -built core stage, lifted off at 1:47 a.m.

Key Points: 
  • KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla., Nov. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA's Space Launch System rocket, powered by the Boeing [NYSE: BA] -built core stage, lifted off at 1:47 a.m.
  • Eight and a half minutes into flight, the core stage completed its mission and separated from the upper stage of the rocket, sending NASA's Orion spacecraft on its first journey around the Moon.
  • "Today, this country now has a super-heavy lift launch capability for the first time in 50 years," said Jim Chilton, senior vice president of Boeing's Space and Launch division.
  • Core Stage-2, or CS-2, will launch the first crew of the Artemis program and is in the final assembly area at Michoud.

NASA Orders Three More Orion Spacecraft from Lockheed Martin

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, October 20, 2022

DENVER, Oct. 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) is now under contract to deliver three Orion spacecraft to NASA for its Artemis VI-VIII missions, continuing the delivery of exploration vehicles to the agency to carry astronauts into deep space and around the Moon supporting the Artemis program.

Key Points: 
  • "Lockheed Martin is honored to partner with NASA to deliver Orion spacecraft for NASA's Artemis missions.
  • This order includes spacecraft, mission planning and support, and takes us into the 2030s," said Lisa Callahan, vice president and general manager for Commercial Civil Space, Lockheed Martin.
  • A breakout of these orders includes:
    2022: NASA orders three additional Orion spacecraft missions for Artemis VI-VIII for $1.99 billion.
  • Under OPOC, Lockheed Martin and NASA have reduced the costs on Orion by 50% per vehicle on Artemis III through Artemis V, compared to vehicles built during the design and development phase.

NASA Awards Contract for Acquisition of Gaseous, Liquid Helium

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, September 29, 2022

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA has selected three companies to supply 1.4 million liters of liquid helium and 87.7 million standard cubic feet of gaseous helium for use at facilities across the agency.

Key Points: 
  • WASHINGTON, Sept. 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA has selected three companies to supply 1.4 million liters of liquid helium and 87.7 million standard cubic feet of gaseous helium for use at facilities across the agency.
  • The indefinite delivery requirements contract includes multiple firm-fixed price delivery orders.
  • The contract begins Saturday, Oct. 1, with a two-year base period followed by an option period that, if exercised, would extend the contract to Sept. 30, 2025.
  • The total value of the contract for the base plus option period is approximately $149 million.

Marshall Space Flight Center Hosts Artemis Media Day

Retrieved on: 
Monday, February 28, 2022

HUNTSVILLE, Ala., Feb. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, will host an Artemis media day Friday, March 4.

Key Points: 
  • HUNTSVILLE, Ala., Feb. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, will host an Artemis media day Friday, March 4.
  • As the Artemis I launch of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft approaches, Marshall is inviting media to participate in interview opportunities with leadership and subject matter experts and facility tours.
  • Marshall designed and developed the SLS rocket and contributed to many other facets of the Artemis I mission and future Artemis missions.
  • For more on Marshall Space Flight Center, visit
    View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/marshall-space-flight-center-ho...

NASA Awards Marshall Engineering Support Contract

Retrieved on: 
Friday, December 17, 2021

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA has awarded the Marshall Engineering Technicians and Trades Support (METTS) III contract to RSi-QuantiTech JV LLC of Huntsville, Alabama, to provide a wide range of engineering technicians and trade skills, as well as professional and management oversight of the technical staff at the agency's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, and Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans.

Key Points: 
  • WASHINGTON, Dec. 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA has awarded the Marshall Engineering Technicians and Trades Support (METTS) III contract to RSi-QuantiTech JV LLC of Huntsville, Alabama, to provide a wide range of engineering technicians and trade skills, as well as professional and management oversight of the technical staff at the agency's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, and Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans.
  • The performance-based, cost-plus-award-fee contract has a potential mission services value of $76.6 million and a maximum potential indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity value of $196.8 million.
  • The contract begins March 1, 2022, with a one-year base period, followed by four one-year option periods that may be exercised at NASA's discretion.
  • Under the Section 8(a) small business contract, RSi-QuantiTech JV will be responsible for providing on-site engineering technicians and trade skills services to the Engineering Directorate and Facilities Management Office at Marshall, as well as other programs and projects requiring such services at Marshall and Michoud.

AECOM to provide architecture and engineering services for Kennedy Space Center and other NASA facilities

Retrieved on: 
Friday, September 24, 2021

As NASA has grown, evolved, and continued to push the boundaries of space exploration, AECOM has been there to support its globally impactful missions and cutting-edge operations.

Key Points: 
  • As NASA has grown, evolved, and continued to push the boundaries of space exploration, AECOM has been there to support its globally impactful missions and cutting-edge operations.
  • These include Kennedy Space Center in Florida; Johnson Space Center, Sonny Carter Training Facility, and Ellington Field in Texas; White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico; Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama; Michoud Assembly Facility in Louisiana; Stennis Space Center in Mississippi; other NASA assets; and additional launch or landing sites worldwide.
  • From the Mercury and Gemini programs through today, AECOM has been honored to work alongside NASA on all of its facilities spanning the country.
  • Under the contract, AECOM will provide a wide range of architecture, civil, structural, mechanical, and electrical infrastructure services across all project phases, including planning and feasibility, permitting, preliminary engineering, final design, engineering services during construction, activation, and commissioning.

NASA Selects Center Administrative Support Services II Contractor

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, June 23, 2021

HUNTSVILLE, Ala., June 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA has awarded the Center Administrative Support Services (CASS) II contract to CeleraPro LLC of Reston, Virginia, to provide administrative support services at the agency's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, and Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans.

Key Points: 
  • HUNTSVILLE, Ala., June 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA has awarded the Center Administrative Support Services (CASS) II contract to CeleraPro LLC of Reston, Virginia, to provide administrative support services at the agency's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, and Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans.
  • The performance based, firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) has a potential mission services value of $18.9 million and a maximum potential IDIQ value of $2.6 million.
  • Under the Historically Underutilized Business Zone set-aside contract, CeleraPro will be responsible for providing a wide range of professional administrative support including clerical services, administrative services, and records maintenance services to the Office of Human Resources at Marshall and Michoud.
  • For information about NASA and agency programs on the web, visit:
    View original content to download multimedia: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nasa-selects-center-administrati...

NASA Conducts Test of SLS Rocket Core Stage for Artemis I Moon Mission

Retrieved on: 
Sunday, January 17, 2021

WASHINGTON, Jan. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA conducted a hot fire Saturday of the core stage for the agency's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket that will launch the Artemis I mission to the Moon.

Key Points: 
  • WASHINGTON, Jan. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA conducted a hot fire Saturday of the core stage for the agency's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket that will launch the Artemis I mission to the Moon.
  • For the test, the 212-foot core stage generated 1.6 million pounds of thrust, while anchored in the B-2 Test Stand at NASA's Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.
  • "Saturday's test was an important step forward to ensure that the core stage of the SLS rocket is ready for the Artemis I mission, and to carry crew on future missions," said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, who attended the test.
  • Under the Artemis program, NASA is working to land the first woman and the next man on the Moon in 2024.