NASA Announces Distribution of Constellation Work

June 5, 2006

Dolores Beasley/Michael Braukus
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1753/1979

RELEASE: 06-233

NASA ANNOUNCES DISTRIBUTION OF CONSTELLATION WORK

NASA announced Monday agency center responsibilities associated with
the Constellation Program for robotic and human moon and Mars
exploration.

This distribution of work across NASA's centers reflects the agency's
intention to productively use personnel, facilities and resources
from across the agency to accomplish the Vision for Space
Exploration.

"Our past experiences have provided the foundation to begin shaping
the space exploration capabilities needed to create a sustained
presence on the moon and on to Mars," said Scott Horowitz, associate
administrator for NASA's Exploration Systems Mission Directorate.
"Our programs and projects are evolving as we develop the
requirements to execute the Vision for Space Exploration. At the same
time we are aligning the work that needs to be accomplished with the
capabilities of our NASA centers."

In addition to primary work assignments each center will support moon
and Mars surface systems conceptual designs. Centers also support
additional Constellation program and project activities. Center
assignments:

Ames Research Center, Moffett Field Calif., leads the crew exploration
vehicle (CEV) Thermal Protection System Advanced Development Project.
Ames is developing information systems to support the Constellation
Program Safety, Reliability and Quality Assurance Office.

Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, Calif., leads CEV Abort Flight
Test integration and operations including Abort Test Booster
procurement and integration with the Flight Test Article.

Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, leads the CEV Service Module and
Spacecraft Adapter integration, providing oversight and independent
analysis of the prime contractor's development of these segments.
Glenn has lead responsibility for the design and development of
several crew launch vehicle (CLV) upper stage systems.

Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md., provides co-leadership of
the Constellation Program's System Engineering and Integration
navigation team and software and avionics team.

Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., leads a multi-center
activity in support of the Mission Operations Project to plan systems
engineering processes related to operations development and
preparation. JPL provides co-leadership for the Constellation Program
Office Systems Engineering and Integration Software and Avionics
team.

Johnson Space Center, Houston, host the Constellation Program, the CEV
Project and the Mission Operations Project. The Constellation Program
manages and integrates the program and all projects. The CEV Project
Office manages and integrates all CEV elements including prime
contractor work. The Mission Operations Project manages and
integrates all activities related to mission operations.

Kennedy Space Center, Fla., hosts the Ground Operations Project. The
project manages all activities related to ground operations for the
launch and landing sites, including ground processing, launch, and
recovery systems.

Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va., leads Launch Abort System
integration supporting the CEV Project, providing oversight and
independent analysis of the CEV prime contractor's development of the
system. Langley leads the Command Module Landing System Advanced
Development Project for CEV. Langley provides vehicle integration and
CEV test article module development for the CLV Advanced Development
Flight Test-0.

Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala., hosts the
Constellation Launch Vehicle projects. The projects are responsible
for project management of all CLV and cargo launch vehicle related
activities. Marshall provides the CLV first stage design, and is
responsible for launch vehicle demonstration testing including the
Advanced Development Flight Test-0.

Stennis Space Center, Miss., manages and integrates rocket propulsion
testing for the CLV Project. Stennis leads sea-level development,
certification, and acceptance testing for the upper stage engine,
sea-level development testing for the upper stage main propulsion
test article, and sea-level acceptance testing for the flight upper
stage assembly.

While these decisions will result in budget and personnel allocations
at the centers, detailed estimates will not be available until after
prime contractors are formally selected for the program's major
projects, such as the crew exploration vehicle, crew launch vehicle
and cargo launch vehicle. For information about the Constellation
Program and a detailed listing of the work assignments at each the
center, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/constellation

For information about NASA and agency programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/home

-end-