CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida has signed a new partnership agreement with PaR Systems Inc. of Shoreview, Minn., for use of the Hangar N facility and its unique nondestructive testing (NDT) equipment. The facility is located on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS) adjacent to Kennedy.

Because of NASA’s transition from the Space Shuttle Program to future commercial and government mission activities, this agreement allows NASA to preserve Hangar N’s unique inventory of nondestructive test and evaluation (NDE) equipment and the capability for current and future mission spaceflight support. The government retains ownership of the facility and equipment, which enables PaR Systems to utilize it now and NASA to use it for future spaceflight projects.

“Kennedy Space Center continues to work with the commercial community to find inventive ways to use our unique facilities and equipment,” said Kennedy Director Bob Cabana. “We look forward to this new partnership with PaR Systems and its contributions to America’s space program.”

Under a 15-year lease agreement, PaR Systems will operate and maintain the facility at its own expense to perform nondestructive evaluation testing and other related aerospace, marine and industrial products services. The company will immediately access the facility to begin work.

Hangar N can inspect large structures as well as small commercial and aerospace parts. Its location at CCAFS allows PaR to provide support to NASA’s Space Launch System and Orion programs and to commercial launch customers.

Kennedy’s business project development team and the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast worked with PaR Systems Inc. to establish the agreement.

PaR Systems Inc. is a privately held business specializing in process automation, robotic solutions and services for critical applications in demanding environments. Initially, eight PaR employees will be based at Kennedy to perform the work. Additional support will be provided by PaR’s LaserUT Center of Excellence in Fort Worth, Texas, and its Robotics Headquarters in Shoreview, Minn.

Kennedy is positioning itself for the next era of space exploration, transitioning to a 21st century launch facility with multiple users, both private and government. A dynamic infrastructure is taking shape, designed to host many kinds of spacecraft and rockets sending people on America’s next adventures in space.

For more information about PaR Systems Inc., visit: http://www.par.com

For more information about Kennedy, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/kennedy