NASA Announces Mars Science Lab Mission Launch Contract

June 2, 2006

Bruce Buckingham
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-861-7642

Katherine Trinidad
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-3749

CONTRACT RELEASE: C06-033

NASA ANNOUNCES MARS SCIENCE LAB MISSION LAUNCH CONTRACT

NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida has selected Lockheed Martin
Commercial Launch Services Inc. to deliver an Atlas V rocket for the
Mars Science Laboratory mission to carry a large rover to the red
planet in the fall of 2009. The six-wheeled rover will explore Mars
for two years, examining sites to identify where the building blocks
for life may exist.

The total Mars Science Laboratory launch service price is $194.7
million. That cost includes NASA launch services and mission
integration requirements. This is a firm-fixed price contract. The
launch services for Mars Science Laboratory are being acquired under
the existing NASA Launch Services multiple award procedures.

Principal work for the Atlas V Centaur propellant tank will be
performed at Lockheed Martin's San Diego facility, while the primary
work location for the Atlas V booster propellant tank's production
will be done at Lockheed's facility in Waterton, Colo.

The Mars Science Laboratory will launch from Complex 41 on the Cape
Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. The mission is managed by NASA's
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., a division of the
California Institute of Technology. JPL is responsible for spacecraft
design and integration; integration of science instruments;
spacecraft system testing; launch operations support and support of
mission operations. For more information about the Mars Science
Laboratory mission, visit:

http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/future/msl.html

For information about NASA and agency programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/home


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