NASA Awards Space Network Ground Segment Sustainment Contract

WASHINGTON -- NASA has awarded the Space Network Ground Segment
Sustainment project contract to General Dynamics C4 Systems of
Scottsdale, Ariz.

The cost-plus-award fee, indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity
contract has a total potential value of approximately $642.2 million,
including options. The period of performance is from June 21, 2010
through June 20, 2017.

The Space Network Ground Segment is part of NASA's Space Network. The
agency's Tracking and Data Relay Satellites (TDRS) comprise the space
segment. The network provides the resources for global
space-to-ground telecommunications and tracking coverage for low
Earth orbit and near-Earth robotic and human spaceflight missions.

The Space Network Ground Segment includes facilities and systems
located at the White Sands Complex at Las Cruces, N.M., Guam Remote
Ground Terminal at Guam, and the Space Network Expansion East at
Blossom Point, Md.

Under the Space Network Ground Segment Sustainment contract, General
Dynamics will modernize the ground segment to enable the Space
Network to continue to deliver high quality services, meet
stakeholder requirements, and significantly reduce required
operations and maintenance resources.

The work includes replacing obsolete systems, creating a more flexible
and expandable architecture, facilitating the integration of NASA's
Space Communications and Navigation networks, addressing customer
requirements and advances in technology, and implementing new methods
and capabilities for using the TDRS to support Space Network user
spacecraft.

It also includes expanding and improving the methods for Space Network
user control centers to interface with the Space Network Ground
Segment for data and service planning and control, and maintaining
long-term operational performance, reliability and maintainability.

For more information about NASA and agency programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov

Source: NASA