Hartwig currently serves as USA Vice President of Aerospace Services and Mission Operations and is also the Program Manager for the Integrated Mission Operations Contract (IMOC), which provides support to the NASA Mission Operations Directorate (MOD) and Flight Crew Operations Directorate (FCOD) at the Johnson Space Center (JSC).

Hartwig joined the U.S. Space Program at Rockwell International’s Space Systems Division in Downey, California, in 1984. He was reassigned to Rockwell Space Operations in Houston in 1986. In 1996, he was assigned to the Space Flight Operations Contract (SFOC) under USA, and became responsible for the development and execution of the SFOC Transition Plan for Flight Operations. Hartwig was selected in 1997 as the director of Space Flight Training and Facility Operations, where he was responsible for Space Shuttle flight controller and astronaut training until his selection as deputy Associate Program Manager (APM) for Flight Operations in 2002 and as APM in 2009.

United Space Alliance is a leader in space operations with extensive experience in all aspects of the field. Headquartered in Houston, USA has more than 850 employees working in Texas and Florida.

That team is part of a workforce that has been responsible for maintaining and launching the orbiters for decades. Once the orbiters were retired, the USA team began preparing each of them – Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavour – for museum display, and has been assisting in transporting the vehicles to their new locations in Virginia, California, and the Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex in Florida. USA also assisted in preparing Enterprise, NASA’s test orbiter, and transporting the vehicle to the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum in New York City.

For the Endeavour delivery, a team of 35 USA workers was deployed in early September to LAX to set up the equipment needed to offload, or ‘demate’, the vehicle from the back of the modified 747 jet. That equipment includes a customized wind restraint system designed and constructed on site to help stabilize the orbiter while it is being lifted from the SCA. In addition, a variety of cranes were delivered and assembled, and the sling that attaches to the orbiter and hooks to the cranes was transported from Edwards Air Force Base and assembled on site.

Once Endeavour has been lifted and placed on the transporter, USA workers will remove and disassemble the tail cone, perform some final tasks to configure the orbiter for display, and disassemble the de-mate equipment. The team will return to KSC in staggered fashion, with the last of the crew arriving back at KSC on Oct. 5.

“The USA team is proud to help deliver Endeavour to its new home in California, and we are all glad to know that millions of people from the U.S. and around the globe will now have the chance to see this impressive vehicle up close and personal.” said Virginia Barnes, USA President and CEO.

Work to ready the orbiters for public display began in 2011, as each orbiter completed its final mission and rolled back from the Shuttle Landing Facility for the final time. Endeavour’s final mission, STS-134 was finished when the orbiter touched down on June 1, 2011.

Once Endeavour was back in its orbiter processing facility, USA employees first completed the routine, post-mission tasks, including removing the payload, safing the hazardous systems, and removing the engines, the external windows and the extravehicular mobility units. Workers then set out to perform a series of reconfigurations and safing steps that were not part of the normal processing flow.

Orbital maneuvering system pods and forward reaction control system, which provided on-orbit propulsion, were removed and sent to the White Sands Testing Facility for decontamination and removal of oxidizer fuel valves and hypergolic tanks. Tanks and lines related to the auxiliary power units, which provided power for movement of the orbiter’s aero surfaces, were removed.

Numerous other items were permanently removed from the interior, including the 50-foot-long remote manipulation system arm; the orbiter airlock; cameras and some electronic control hardware. The aft portion of the orbiter was relieved of most of the main propulsion system, helium tanks, flow control valves and hydraulic pumps. Pyrotechnic devices were removed or safed.

The final step in the processing was to configure the vehicle for its ferry flight to the museum, which included installing special hardware used for attachment to the 747 jet, and installing the large tail cone, which covers the engines and orbital maneuvering system of the orbiter during the flight. After completion of this work, Endeavour weighed in at 155,000 pounds, about 35,000 pounds less than normal.

On Sept. 14, USA employees towed Endeavour out of the Vehicle Assembly Building, where it had been stored since Aug. 16, and over to the Mate/Demate device at the Shuttle Landing Facility. They then lifted the orbiter and lowered it onto the SCA for the ferry flight to California.

“For each and every USA employee, it has been an honor and a privilege to care for this nation’s Space Shuttle fleet,” Barnes said. “This workforce made a very difficult task look easy, thanks to their absolute dedication and commitment to this program. We are all proud to have been a part of NASA’s Space Shuttle team, and we hope Endeavour will continue to inspire this nation with her incredible space faring legacy.”

The extension provides support to the Johnson Space Center’s Mission Operations Directorate and Flight Crew Operations Directorate for mission planning and preparation, crew and flight controller training, and real-time mission execution. It raises the value of the contract by $17.4 million. 

The original cost-plus-award-fee contract began on Nov. 1, 2008 and completes on Sept. 30, 2012, with a value of more than $300 million. The new agreement extends the period of performance through Sept. 30, 2013, and includes a one-year option to further extend the contract through September 30, 2014. 

“The IMOC extension reinforces the strong, positive partnership between NASA and United Space Alliance,” said Scott Hartwig, USA’s IMOC Program Manager. “We are pleased that NASA continues to have confidence in our ability to provide this ongoing support, and we remain committed to the shared goal of ensuring the safety and success of our nation’s human space flight operations.”

United Space Alliance is a world leader in space operations with extensive experience in all aspects of the field. Headquartered in Houston, USA has employees working in Texas, Florida and Alabama. Currently, USA is applying its broad range of capabilities to NASA’s Space Shuttle and International Space Station programs as well as to space operations customers in the commercial and international space industry sectors.

“Successfully supporting NASA’s mission requires not only a dedicated, talented and skilled workforce, but an equally dedicated network of suppliers,” said Penny White, USA’s Director of Procurement. Since 1998, USA has awarded annual Supplier of the Year honors to companies whose proven performance during the year exhibited a shared commitment to the ideals that have made USA and its customers successful.

The winners of the USA Supplier Awards for 2011 are:
Small Disadvantaged Business of the Year Award – JRH Electronics. LLC
Small Woman-Owned Business of the Year – Gold Coast Wire Assemblies
Large Business of the Year Award – Tellepsen.

JRH Electronics, based in Marlton, New Jersey, provides electrical components to USA and in 2011 provided more than 500 line items, most with expedited delivery requirements, for USA’s work in support of the Lockheed Martin Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) Program. Program managers cited JRH for its outstanding customer service, proactive planning and tremendous coordination with USA and with Lockheed Martin customers regarding all acquisitions.

Gold Coast Wire Assemblies, a supplier to USA since the company’s inception in 1996, is based in Satellite Beach, Florida. The award recognizes the efficient and high-quality manner in which Gold Coast provided more than 400 electrical wire line items to USA in 2011 in support of the Orion MPCV Program. Gold Coast’s quick response time, high product quality, and willingness to use its knowledge of the industry and its manufacturing network to assist USA in meeting its challenges has made the company a valued and trusted partner, according to White.

Tellepsen, a construction firm based in Houston, TX, was a key partner in helping USA to consolidate its facilities in Houston as the company underwent a major transition following the retirement of the Space Shuttle Program. As USA worked to consolidate from seven buildings into two, Tellepsen was responsible for modifying USA’s two primary buildings to house all of the relocated functions and organizations. Tellepsen beat every milestone and finished under budget, and the firm was cited by USA managers for exceeding expectations in every aspect of the project, despite the challenge of running two parallel projects in two different buildings. “Tellepsen exhibited the utmost in professionalism, proved their expertise in the field, and truly served as a partner to USA throughout the project,” White said.

The 2011 Supplier Award recipients reflect USA’s ongoing commitment to supporting small businesses. “We’re extremely proud that more than two thirds of our active supplier base are small businesses, the true engine of innovation in America,” White said. Since USA’s inception, the company has awarded nearly $2.7 billion to small businesses.

United Space Alliance is a world leader in space operations with extensive experience in all aspects of the field. Headquartered in Houston, USA has employees working in Texas and Florida. Currently, USA is applying its broad range of capabilities to NASA’s International Space Station program as well as to space operations customers in the commercial space industry sectors.

The Stellar Award, one of the space industry’s most prestigious recognitions, is presented annually by the RNASA Foundation to individuals whose accomplishments hold the greatest promise for furthering future activities in space. This year more than 99 individuals and 28 teams were nominated for the award.

“We are very proud of Pam, Brian, Anna, Nancy and all of our Stellar Award nominees,” said USA President and CEO Virginia A. Barnes. “The extraordinary efforts of these individuals have contributed to not only the success of United Space Alliance, but also to the success of all of the customers we serve.”

August and Crisp were both winners in the Early Career category. August was honored for her dedication and support to assembly and maintenance operations of the International Space Station (ISS), and Crisp was recognized for his outstanding leadership of the US Command & Data Handing Instructor & Onboard Data Interfaces and Network officer Flight Control Team supporting the ISS.

Jarvis and Rustemeyer were recognized in the Mid Career category. Jarvis received the award her outstanding leadership, project management, and technical excellence in Extra-Vehicular Activity throughout the entire ISS assembly sequence. Rustemeyer also was honored for her outstanding contributions to the assembly of the ISS.

Other Stellar Award nominees from USA were John Cipoletti of Florida; Paul Henry; Becky Little; Roger Luty; Scott Segadi; the Orbital Communications Adapter (OCA) Automation Team consisting of Steven Kirk, Tyson Tucker, Fisher Reynolds, Jason Toschlog and Jason Mintz; and the Portable Computer System (PCS) Test Automation Tool Team consisting of Roger Peltier, Jeffrey Rando, and Carla Yager, all of Houston.

USA, which has served as NASA’s prime Shuttle contractor since 1996, is responsible for preparing each of the three orbiters – Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavour – for museum display, and is assisting in transporting the vehicles to their new locations in Virginia, California, and the Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex in Florida. USA is also assisting in preparing Enterprise and transporting the vehicle to the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum in New York City.

“The dedication of this workforce has not waned, and they have applied the same care and precision they employed while the Shuttles were flying to the final preparations for museum display. While there is a sense of sadness to see this remarkable hardware go, we are all glad to know that millions of people from the U.S. and around the globe will now have the chance to see these impressive vehicles up close and personal,” said Mark Nappi, USA’s Vice President of Aerospace Services.

Work to ready the orbiters for public display began in 2011, as each orbiter completed its final mission and rolled back from the Shuttle Landing Facility for the final time. Discovery’s final mission, STS-133, was finished when the orbiter touched down on March 9, 2011.

Once Discovery was back in its orbiter processing facility, USA employees first completed the routine, post-mission tasks, including removing the payload, safing the hazardous systems, and removing the engines, the external windows and the extravehicular mobility units. Workers then set out to perform a series of reconfigurations and safing steps that were not part of the normal processing flow.

For example, the orbital maneuvering system pods and forward reaction control system, which provided on-orbit propulsion, were removed and sent to the White Sands Testing Facility for decontamination and removal of oxidizer fuel valves and hypergolic tanks. Tanks and lines related to the auxiliary power units, which provided power for movement of the orbiter’s aero surfaces, were removed.

Numerous other items were permanently removed from the interior, including: the 50-foot-long remote manipulation system arm; the orbiter docking system (the airlock remains); and some of the cameras and communications hardware. The aft portion of the orbiter was relieved of fuel tanks, flow control valves, hydraulic pumps and the Freon heat exchanger, which was used for cooling. Pyrotechnic devices were removed or safed. Many of these items will be used as part of the external display at the museum, while others will be reserved for use in future NASA programs.

The final step in the processing was to configure the vehicle for its ferry flight to the museum, which included installing struts for attaching to the 747 jet, and installing the large tail cone, which covers the engines and orbital maneuvering system of the orbiter during the flight. After completion of this work, Discovery weighed in at 161,321 pounds, which is about 30,000 pounds less than normal.

On April 14, USA employees towed Discovery out of the Vehicle Assembly Building, where it had been stored since March 9, and over to the Mate/Demate device at the landing facility. They then lifted the orbiter and lowered it onto the 747 jet also known as the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA).

At the other end of the journey, in Virginia, another group of USA employees is ready and waiting to reverse the process and demate Discovery from the SCA. On Thursday, they will help to roll the orbiter to the Smithsonian’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center near Washington Dulles International Airport.

“On behalf of each and every USA employee, it has been an honor and a privilege to care for this nation’s Space Shuttle fleet,” said Virginia Barnes, USA’s President and CEO. “This workforce made a very difficult task look easy, thanks to their absolute dedication and commitment to this program. We are all proud to have been a part of NASA’s Space Shuttle team, and we hope Discovery will continue to inspire this nation with her incredible space faring legacy.”

– end —

United Space Alliance is a world leader in space operations with extensive experience in all aspects of the field. Headquartered in Houston, USA has employees working in Texas and Florida. Currently, USA is applying its broad range of capabilities to NASA’s Space Shuttle and International Space Station programs as well as to space operations customers in the commercial sector. For more information, go to www.unitedspacealliance.com.

HOUSTON — NASA announced the Space Shuttle Program and subcontractor closeout modification to the Space Program Operations Contract (SPOC) with United Space Alliance (USA) of Houston, valued at $232.9 million.

The contract covers SPOC closeout actions from Oct. 1, 2011 through Sept. 30, 2013, including:

– Making orbiters Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavour safe for public display
– Ferry operation activities for Discovery
– Property, information technology systems and records disposition by USA
– Subcontract closeout activities including property disposition, information technology systems disposition and records disposition by 31 subcontractors through firm-fixed-price contracts and five subcontractors through five cost-plus type contracts.

The principal locations of the various work elements are USA’s facilities in Houston, Huntsville, Ala.; and Titusville, Cocoa Beach and Kennedy Space Center in Fla.

This is a cost-plus-award-fee-reimbursement contract.

A need in the United States for pipeline operation companies to better monitor and control pipeline infrastructure has been identified by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).  PHMSA has approved a schedule change for implementation of the requirements proposed in 49 CFR Parts 192 and 195, to October 2011 and August 2012 respectively.  This accelerated schedule calls for the nation’s gas and petroleum products pipeline operating companies to integrate control room management and human factors procedures into their existing written manuals and processes for operations and maintenance, operator qualifications and emergency procedures.  The mandatory regulations will affect all gas transmission and distribution pipelines, hazardous liquid pipelines, and LNG facilities.

Furthermore, several U.S. and Canadian trade groups recently announced a “comprehensive” joint study to improve pipeline safety.  Six industry trade groups said the study will “explore safety models and procedures currently utilized by other industry sectors in an effort to deliver natural gas and pipeline-transported liquids more safely and reliably.”

Operations management of NASA’s Mission Control and of command and control facilities in both the commercial and military aerospace sectors, has long been cognizant of the role that effective management of human factors plays in the safety, reliability and integrity of their operations.  PHMSA, the U.S. Congress, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and many pipeline stakeholders have more recently identified control room management and human factors as key areas requiring improvement and enhancement to promote public safety, operational integrity of the pipeline transportation network and protection of the environment from the effects of pipeline failures.

In view of the aggressive regulatory deadline, Knowledge Reservoir, through its Real-Time Systems (RTS^SM) division is tapping the pool of real-time systems operations and monitoring expertise at USA to help enable operators to fast track implementation and to meet the deadline set by PHMSA.  Relevant skill sets brought to the partnership by USA include operator training/certification, quality and risk management, compliance assessment, safety assessment and failure mode analysis.

Dr. Ivor R. Ellul, CEO of Knowledge Reservoir, commented, “Knowledge Reservoir brings its oil and gas subject matter expertise together with USA’s operation control expertise in this partnership.  We view our collaboration as a real opportunity to support the Pipeline industry in meeting the new regulations.  Many of the issues noted in the PHMSA Control Room Management Directive reflect the same issues that have been worked in the U.S. Space Program over the past 50 years.  We are offering highly focused project management and real time operations expertise developed and successfully implemented with NASA over the past several years.”

David Valentine, USA Director of Safety and Mission Assurance, noted that “USA brings decades of operations experience within the NASA human spaceflight arena to the pipeline industry with tailored approaches that will facilitate meeting the PHMSA regulations in a timely, thorough and efficient manner.” 

USA CEO Virginia Barnes with NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, left, and NASA Small Business Administrator Glenn Delgado, right, at NASA Small Business Symposium and Awards Ceremony

United Space Alliance (USA) has been recognized by NASA’s Office of Small Business Programs as the 2011 Large Business Prime Contractor of the Year at the Johnson Space Center.

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden presented the award to USA’s Chief Executive Officer Virginia Barnes during a Small Business Symposium and Awards Ceremony held this week in Virginia. The award recognizes the company’s ongoing efforts to foster small businesses that support aerospace programs, and its contributions to the agency’s small business program.

“Working with small businesses is a win-win scenario. Having a network of world-class suppliers, all of whom emphasize safety, quality and customer satisfaction, is critical to our company’s success, and to NASA’s success as well,” Barnes said, adding, “USA has a long history of assisting its small business partners and of helping to expand their opportunities. That commitment will continue as the company expands its customer base going forward.”

Since USA’s inception, the company has awarded contracts worth nearly $2.7 billion to small businesses. More than two-thirds of USA’s supplier base is comprised of small companies.

In 2010, USA’s Small Business Program received its third consecutive rating of “Outstanding” from the U.S. Small Business Administration and became the first Houston large prime contractor to receive this rating three reviews in a row.

“Maintaining and enhancing the launch capabilities at the Kennedy Space Center are critical to helping NASA prepare for the next phase of human spaceflight,” said Mark Nappi, USA’s Vice President of Aerospace Services. “This contract takes advantage of a workforce that has decades of experience in space operations – experience that USA is working to apply to multiple government and commercial customers.”

Under the contract, USA will provide the necessary Operations, Maintenance and Sustaining engineering personnel, technical and support services, and material required to preserve the launch center’s ground operations capability going forward. USA will provide integration for all the major work activities supporting the Launch Complex 39 area facilities and sites, with the goal of extending the service life of Shuttle Program assets to provide capabilities for the Space Launch System, commercial operations and other KSC contractors.

Examples of those assets include the giant crawler transporters, the cryogenic, hydraulic and hypergolic fluid systems, the fixed and mobile cranes, the ground instrumentation system that supports the Launch Control Center, the booster retrieval ships, the launch pads and the Vehicle Assembly Building.

“NASA and USA continue the strong partnership established under the SPOC program to ensure the safety and success of our nation’s human space flight operations,” said Virginia Barnes, USA President and Chief Executive Officer. “We are pleased to provide this ongoing support, and we remain committed to helping NASA reach all of its space exploration goals, now and in the future.”

United Space Alliance is a world leader in space operations with extensive experience in all aspects of the field. Headquartered in Houston, USA has employees working in Texas, Florida and Alabama. Currently, USA is applying its broad range of capabilities to NASA’s Space Shuttle and International Space Station programs as well as to space operations customers in the commercial and international space industry sectors.

“Since 1998, USA has awarded Supplier of the Year honors to companies whose proven performance during the year exhibited a shared commitment to the ideals that made USA and the Space Shuttle program successful,” said Penny White, USA Director of Supply Chain Operations.

The recipient of USA’s 2010 Small Business of the Year Award was CresaPartners of Boston. The Small Disadvantaged Business of the Year was Oneida Construction, Inc. of Mims, Fla. Selected as USA’s Small Woman-Owned Business of the Year was Boggs Aerospace Gases of Titusville, Fla. The Large Business of the Year was Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne.

“United Space Alliance considers a world-class supplier base that emphasizes safety, quality and customer satisfaction to be strategically essential,” White said. “In honoring these suppliers, USA is maintaining a commitment to supplier diversity and expanding opportunities for small businesses.”

USA’s Small Business of the Year, CresaPartners, was selected based on support provided to USA in managing the reduction of the company’s leased real estate properties. The plan developed by CresaPartners was designed to position USA to effectively close out the Space Shuttle program while continuing to execute other existing contracts and to pursue emerging business opportunities. Their team was instrumental in developing USA’s “workplace of the future” office standards. CresaPartners proved to USA that an estimated 30 percent reduction in overall required square footage was achievable by implementing a standard cubicle configuration, and centralized filing and meeting areas.

United Space Alliance recently recognized suppliers that have made significant contributions to America’s space program. Boston-based CresaPartners was the recipient of USA’s 2010 Small Business of the Year Award. Participating in the award presentation were, from the left, USA Director Supply Chain Operations Penny White, Vice President of Finance and CFO Bill Capel, Director of Facilities and Real Estate Rhea Ann Saylor presenting to CresaPartners representatives David Price, Phillip Infelise, Rachel Ngola and Bill Baldwin.

The recipient of USA’s Small Disadvantaged Business Supplier of the Year, Oneida Construction, was selected due to the contractor’s proven ability to successfully complete critical construction efforts under demanding schedule requirements. Oneida completed a crucial construction project to perform repairs on the east slope at Launch Pad 39-A between Sept. 2-8, 2010, in order to avoid any delay of the roll-out of STS-133. The work involved the complete demolition and replacement of six large concrete panels and partial replacement of three other panels. In addition, Oneida also successfully completed construction work for the addition of a High Volume Air Condition system in the Communication Distribution and System Communication Facility between February and April of last year.

United Space Alliance recently recognized suppliers that have made significant contributions to America’s space program. USA Director Procurement and Subcontracts Linda Jassmann-Lane (right) recently presented Robert Porter of Oneida Construction, Inc. of Mims, Fla., with USA’s 2010 Small Disadvantaged Business of the Year Award.

Boggs Aerospace Gases, USA’s Woman-Owned Small Business Supplier of the Year, provides a variety of industrial, medical and welding gases in new or refillable cylinders. The company provides excellent customer service by promptly responding to requests for quotations on all requirements, communicating any delivery issues and repairing and refilling cylinders to support emergency requirements. In 2010 a special project was undertaken to hydrostatically test various sizes of cylinders for compliance to Department of Transportation (DOT) and non-DOT standards. Boggs was the only company able to accept this challenge. They were able to create a customized tank big enough to support the different sizes and shapes of cylinders to be tested.

United Space Alliance recently recognized suppliers that have made significant contributions to America’s space program. The company’s Small Woman-Owned Business of the Year was Boggs Aerospace Gases of Titusville, Fla. Participating in the ceremony were (from the left) Associate Program Manager of Integrated Logistics Mike Renfroe, Director Procurement and Subcontracts Linda Jassmann-Lane and Director Supply Chain Operations Penny White presenting to Michelle Boggs, Janet Paglialonga and Scott McIntire.

The Large Business of the Year was Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, the supplier of the Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSMEs). As a subcontractor to USA at Kennedy Space Center, Rocketdyne performs SSME maintenance, check-out and processing tasks including hardware inspections for SSMEs, both in the stand-alone mode and when installed in the Orbiter. Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne’s personnel thoroughly analyzed and monitored operational schedules to ensure that engine deliveries and engine processing operations were properly scheduled and performed to ensure that engines were flight-ready. In addition, their safety culture was a benchmark for the industry with no Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reportable on the job injuries at Kennedy Space Center during 2010.

United Space Alliance recently recognized suppliers that have made significant contributions to America’s space program. The company’s Large Business of the Year was Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne. Director Supply Chain Operations Penny White (right) presented the award plaque to Dan Hausman of Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne (center). Also participating was USA Director Manufacturing and Processing Operations Greg Crews.

During ceremonies celebrating the return of the STS-135 crew and the Space Shuttle Atlantis on July 21, NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden, far left, presented NASA Distinguished Public Service Medals to United Space Alliance Associate Program Manager for Ground Operations Patty Stratton, left center, and NASA Director of Launch Vehicle Processing Rita Willcoxon. Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana also participated in the presentation.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Florida, July 27, 2011 – During ceremonies celebrating the return of the STS-135 crew and the Space Shuttle Atlantis on July 21, NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden presented NASA Distinguished Public Service Medals to United Space Alliance (USA) Associate Program Manager for Ground Operations Patty Stratton and NASA Director of Launch Vehicle Processing Rita Willcoxon.

“Patty is a deserving recipient of this prestigious NASA Award,” said USA President and Chief Executive Officer Virginia Barnes. “She has been a key player in a leading role with USA’s workforce at KSC ensuring we safely and successfully complete the Shuttle’s mission.”

The space agency presents the Distinguished Public Service medal to individuals whose extraordinary accomplishments contribute substantially to the NASA mission. Stratton and Willcoxon were honored for their leadership of the NASA-USA teams at the Kennedy Space Center who processed the Space Shuttle for their final missions.

“We did it with an outstanding team,” Stratton said. “It was a great ride.”

Serving in her current role since June 2008, Stratton has been responsible for directing integration of all Space Shuttle processing activities, as well as managing the operations of all facilities and the people required to process the Space Shuttle from landing to launch.

Stratton resides on Merritt Island, Fla., with her husband and two children.

United Space Alliance is a world leader in space operations with extensive experience in all aspects of the field. Headquartered in Houston, USA has employees working in Texas, Florida and Alabama. Currently, USA is applying its broad range of capabilities to NASA’s International Space Station program as well as to space operations customers in the commercial and international space industry sectors.

– end –

This workforce reduction will be implemented over five departure dates – July 22, July 28, Aug. 12, Aug. 26, and Aug. 31. The departure date of each individual employee is determined by management based on close-out activities and budget. The majority of the Florida layoffs will occur on July 22, while the majority of the layoffs in Texas will take place on August 12.

“The accomplishments of this workforce are unmatched in the history of human spaceflight,” said Virginia Barnes, USA President and Chief Executive Officer. “Throughout these final missions, all USA employees have demonstrated incredible professionalism, pride and high character by their dedication to safety and success through this final Atlantis mission. This world class team has finished this program strong. I am very proud of our accomplishments.”

“It is difficult to say goodbye to such tremendously talented and dedicated professionals. We thank them for their service and salute their incredible legacy.”

Employees were formally notified about this latest reduction in April, and those directly affected were notified during the week of May 13. All employees subject to the layoff may receive severance compensation, and all have had access to support for resume development, job interview training and career transition assistance.

The reduction in force affects multiple disciplines and multiple organizations in Texas, Florida and Alabama. When complete, this reduction will impact approximately 1,615 employees in Florida, 700 in Texas, and 50 in Alabama and other states. At the completion of this action, USA will have about 2,800 employees.

“Though USA will be a significantly smaller company, we are optimistic about our future,” Barnes said. “USA retains its strong legacy of Human Space Flight Operations and plans to continue to exploit these tremendous capabilities to a wide variety of new and existing customers.”

The orbiter was greeted on the runway by a team of United Space Alliance (USA) employees who immediately set about safing the vehicle and preparing it for its trip back to the orbiter processing facility.

“For the past 15 years, the USA team has been responsible for processing and maintaining this remarkable fleet of orbiters,” said Virginia Barnes, USA President and Chief Executive Officer. “Their skill, dedication and commitment to the highest standards of performance have helped to make this nation the leader in human spaceflight.”

USA, which has served as the NASA prime Space Shuttle contractor since 1996, has had primary responsibility for processing and executing 56 Shuttle missions, and has been responsible for planning, training and operations support for 81 human space flight missions, including 28 International Space Station increments.  The company will continue to support ISS operations, and is lending its expertise to the design and development of the next generation of human space flight vehicles, including the Orion crew vehicle being developed by Lockheed Martin.

“The success of this mission, as well as the final missions of Endeavour and Discovery, demonstrate the dedication, pride and high character of everyone associated with the Space Shuttle Program,” Barnes said. “Their focus and commitment to safely and successfully finish this program shows what a valuable national asset this team has been.”

“The STS-135 mission will cap a remarkable program full of unparalleled accomplishments.  The employees of United Space Alliance are intensely proud of the important role they have played in processing, launching, and operating this incredible national asset,” said Virginia Barnes, Chief Executive Officer of United Space Alliance (USA).

USA, which began operating as NASA’s prime Space Shuttle contractor in 1996, has had primary responsibility for processing and executing 56 Shuttle missions, and has been responsible for planning, training and operations support for 81 human space flight missions, including 28 International Space Station increments.  The company will continue to support ISS operations, and is lending its expertise to the design and development of the next generation of human space flight vehicles.

Today’s launch begins Atlantis’ 33rd spaceflight and marks the 37^th Shuttle mission to the ISS. 

“As demonstrated by Atlantis’ smooth processing flow and another great launch, these vehicles and the team of people behind them are performing better than ever,” said

Dan Brandenstein, USA’s Chief Operating Officer.  “As the Shuttle program has wound down, this team has been totally committed to finishing strong and finishing safe.”

The STS-135 mission will transport a payload of supplies and spare parts aimed at leaving the ISS in the best possible configuration for the post-Shuttle period.

“The USA team is looking forward to a successful mission, a safe landing and a new future in human spaceflight endeavors,” Barnes said.

“Every Shuttle launch is a thrill to watch, but this launch, Endeavour’s last, has a special meaning to all those who have played a role in the many successful missions of this remarkable vehicle,” said Dan Brandenstein, Chief Operating Officer for United Space Alliance (USA). Brandenstein, a four-time Shuttle crew member, served as commander of Endeavour’s maiden voyage, STS-49, in 1992.

“Endeavour and the other two orbiters continue to perform exceedingly well. Better with every flight,” Brandenstein said. “It is a testament to how well they were designed and the outstanding care they have received. The team of people operating these machines are performing better now than ever before as well, and we are all very proud of this program and its accomplishments.”

Today’s launch begins Endeavour’s 25th spaceflight, and its 11th mission to the ISS.
STS-134 is the 52nd Shuttle processed by USA, which has had primary responsibility for the maintenance and operation of the fleet since becoming NASA’s prime Shuttle contractor in 1996. During preparations for the mission, Endeavour was modified to add a tile “bump” on the lower surface near the starboard wing. This protuberance, part of the Boundary Layer Transition flight Experiment, aims to test the thermal impact of air flow disturbances during re-entry. USA technicians also modified the orbiter’s boom, a 50-foot extension that attaches to the remote manipulating arm, in order to prepare the boom for its permanent installation on the ISS, as it will be left behind when Endeavour returns.

The STS-134 cargo includes the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer-2 (AMS), a particle physics detector that will be mounted on the International Space Station (ISS). It will be used to search for types of unusual matter by measuring cosmic ray particles. The data from the AMS will help scientists determine what the universe is made of and how it began. Endeavour’s cargo will also include an Express Logistics Carrier that contains spare parts that are critical to sustaining ISS operations.

“We have a great deal of up mass and down mass capability with the Space Shuttle orbiter and the goal is to take maximum advantage of that capability on the remaining Shuttle flights,” said Virginia Barnes, USA’s Chief Executive Officer. “These final Shuttle missions are critically important for leaving the station in the best possible configuration for its next phase of operations.”