Lockheed Martin (News - Alert) Corp has won $667.3 million contract from NASA to provide integrated support for the hardware, software, data and displays used to train for and execute human spaceflight missions.

 

The contract involves development and operations support within NASA’s Mission Control Center in Houston and backup control centers for the space shuttle, International Space Station and Constellation programs, according to NASA.

 

In other words, Lockheed Martin will help NASA transition its operations from the Space Shuttle to the Constellation program.

 

NASA’s facilities development and operations contract had been previously performed under two separate contracts, and replaces the mission support operations contract and portions of work under the space program operations contract.

 

The FDOC team will ensure the availability, integrity and reliability of space station avionics software, space shuttle and space station integrated planning systems, shuttle and station simulators for crews and flight controllers, and space shuttle flight software production. In addition, it will support development of a Constellation training facility, simulators and mission control systems.

 

Lockheed Martin will also support development of a Constellation training facility, simulators and mission control systems.

 

The contract includes two one-year extensions valued at $154.2 million and $155.5 million respectively. According to their press statement, if NASA and Lockheed Martin exercise both options, it would extend the contract to Sept. 30, 2014, and increase the contract value to $977 million.

 

The majority of the work for the contract will take place at or near NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

 

Lockheed Martin is competing with Boeing (News - Alert) for the job of providing the support for Mission Control and the training and execution of human spaceflight missions.