Boeing, NASA close SLS deal

Boeing (BA) and NASA closed on a $3.2B contract for the production of core and upper stages to power Space Launch System (SLS) rockets to support future lunar exploration missions. BA will use the funds to manufacture up to 10 SLS core stages for Artemis III and IV, obtain critical and long-lead items for the core stages for Artemis V and VI and produce up to eight exploration upper stages for Artemis V and VI, the agency said Dec. 10.  The deal covers the provision of tooling and related support and engineering services in support of the deep space exploration program. Boeing will perform some core stage assembly and outfitting activities for the Artemis III rocket and succeeding rockets at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., and work with NASA on all core stage manufacturing activities at Michoud Assembly Facility in East New Orleans. NASA launched SLS along with Lockheed Martin‘s Orion spacecraft Nov. 16 for the Artemis I flight test and completed the 25.5 day uncrewed mission to the moon on Dec. 11. (GovConWire 12/12/22) 

NASA's Pegasus barge is currently utilized by the Space Shuttle Program to transport external tanks over 900 miles of inland and open ocean waterways from the Michoud Assembly Facility to the Kennedy Space Center. Additionally, on a regional note, Stennis Space Center, Miss., provided upgrades to a critical system needed to test RS-25 engines that powered the new SLS rocket on Artemis missions to the Moon. NASA, Boeing Finalize $3.2B Deal to Continue Space Launch System Manufacturing Work - GovCon Wire