The Boeing Co. won a contract from NASA today to produce the upper stage of the Ares I crew-launch vehicle.
Ares I will launch the Orion crew-exploration vehicle into space as the successor to the space shuttle.
Boeing was competing against a team led by Alliant Techsystems Inc., which included Lockheed Martin Space Systems in Jefferson County.
The basic contract awarded to Boeing runs through 2016, is worth $514.7 million and could be worth up to $1.125 billion, including support and options for more units. Boeing will do work on the contract in Huntsville, Ala., and in New Orleans.
Boeing’s team includes Hamilton Sundstrand, Moog Inc., Northrop Grumman Corp., Orion Propulsion Inc., SUMMA Technology Inc., United Space Alliance and United Launch Alliance.
