NASA to Announce Contractor for Ares I Upper Stage Production

NASA will host a news conference at 4 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, Aug. 28, to announce the selection of a contractor for the upper stage element of the Ares I rocket that will help launch future human missions to the moon. The Ares I will carry to low Earth orbit the Orion crew exploration vehicle, which will succeed the space shuttle as NASA’s primary vehicle for human space exploration.

The news conference will take place in the NASA Headquarters James E. Webb Memorial Auditorium, 300 E St. S.W., Washington. It will air live on the Web and on NASA Television. Reporters may ask questions from participating NASA locations. Journalists should coordinate with local agency centers by 4 p.m. EDT Monday, Aug. 27, for access information.

Deputy Associate Administrator for Exploration Systems Doug Cooke, Constellation Program Manager Jeff Hanley, Ares Project Manager Steve Cook and Upper Stage Element Manager Danny Davis will announce the selection and discuss the program.

The Ares I upper stage will provide the navigation, guidance, control and propulsion required for the second stage of the rocket’s ascent. The Ares I first stage will consist of a single solid rocket booster and motor similar to those used on the space shuttle with the addition of a fifth motor segment.

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