Boeing Co. has finalized a $2.8 billion contract with NASA to develop the core stage of the space launch system that will be used for deep-space exploration.
“Our teams have dedicated themselves to ensuring that the SLS – the largest ever — will be built safely, affordably and on time,” said Virginia Barnes, Boeing SLS vice president and program manager. “We are passionate about NASA’s mission to explore deep space. It’s a very personal mission, as well as a national mandate.”
The agreement comes as NASA and Chicago-based Boeing complete the last major review on the core stage before full production begins.
The space launch system, the most powerful rocket ever built, is expected to make its initial test flight in 2017. It is designed to carry crew and cargo.
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