Date: October 5th 2006

Oct 4, 2006

Michael Braukus/Beth Dickey Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1979/2087

Kim Newton Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala 256-544-0034

CONTRACT RELEASE: C06-057

ARES I CREW LAUNCH VEHICLE FIRST STAGE CONTRACT MODIFICATION

NASA is extending a previous contract action with ATK Thiokol of Brigham City, Utah, to continue design and development of the first stage for the Ares I crew launch vehicle The extension has a maximum value of $35 million

Ares I is the crew launch vehicle that will transport the Orion crew exploration vehicle, its crew or other small cargo payloads to low-Earth orbit The first stage will consist of a single solid rocket booster similar to those used on the space shuttle, but with a fifth motor segment added The upper stage will consist of a J-2X liquid hydrogen, liquid oxygen engine and the associated propellant tanks and main propulsion system

The contract action maintains the design, development, test and evaluation schedule; expedites the procurement of new nozzle metal hardware and production tooling for propellant casting and nozzle fabrication; and maintains the necessary design and engineering analysis leading to a Systems Requirements Review in December 2006

The action also provides support for an initial test flight in the spring of 2009 known as Ares I-1 The test flight will use a simulated fifth segment on the first stage motor and a simulated upper stage

The contract type is cost-plus-award-fee This modification will increase the overall value of the existing $28 million contract action to a total of $63 million and provide support through Dec 31, 2006

For information about NASA's Constellation Program, visit:

http://www nasa gov/constellation

-end-

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