Shuttle Atlantis reaches Launch Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center during the predawn of June 1. Preparations are under way to send Atlantis on the final shuttle mission July 8. Photo Credit/NASA TV
NASA’s contract aerospace workforce faces more layoffs as NASA’s shuttle program winds to an end in July.
On Friday, The Boeing Co. issued 60-day advance layoff notices to an estimated 510 Space Exploration division workers in Houston, Tex., Cape Canaveral, Fla., and Huntington Beach, Calif.
The layoffs are effective Aug. 5, the company announced.
The timing is linked to NASA’s final shuttle flight. Atlantis and a crew of four astronauts are tentatively scheduled to lift off July 8 on a 12-day supply mission to the International Space Station. Endeavour returned from her final mission on June 1. Discovery led NASA’s three orbiter flight into retirement on March 9.
“We hope that the next generation exploration launch system will serve to mitigate some of these losses, but time is running out.” said Brewster Shaw, Boeing Space Exploration vice president and general manager. “Our priority will be to ensure the last space shuttle mission is safe and successfully executed.”
The notices were issued to 260 workers in Houston, 150 at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida and 100 in Huntington Beach.
Boeing is also re-assigning workers to other NASA sponsored contracts for Space Station support and Commercial Crew Development activities.
Meanwhile, NASA is in the midst of transitioning contract activities in support of the cancelled Constellation program to the four person Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle and Space Launch System initiatives.
The MPCV initiative will continue work on the Orion capsule. The SLS will pursue development of a new heavy lift rocket. The MPCV and SLW combination will support future human missions to a range of deep space destinations.
“We are supporting our employees in their effort to move to other positions, and we are grateful to them for their dedicated service,” said Shaw. Those facing job losses will receive layoff benefits and career transition services, he said.
In early April, NASA’s Houston-based shuttle prime contractor, United Space Alliance, announced it will lay off nearly half of its 5,600 total workforce in Florida, Texas and Alabama following the final shuttle flight.
USA’s employment losses are estimated at between 2,600 to 2,800 companywide, including 1850 to 1950 workers at the Kennedy Space Center ; 750-800 workers at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Tex.; and 30-40 at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala.
USA plans separation packages and career transition assistance as well.