Boeing Opens Launch Systems Office in Huntsville and Teams with Northrop Grumman for CLV Second Stage Production

Boeing has opened an Exploration Launch Systems office in Huntsville, Ala., to support the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center’s Constellation program and the human space transportation elements.

“Our goal is to provide our NASA customer with the best technical solutions and management teams to help develop the launch systems required to return humans to the moon and beyond,” said Brewster Shaw, Boeing Space Exploration vice president and general manager. “We are mobilizing the best of Boeing to help achieve the Vision for Space Exploration.”

Jim Chilton has been assigned as acting program manager for Boeing Exploration Launch Systems and leader of the Huntsville office. Previously, Chilton led the company’s Check-out, Assembly and Payload Processing Services contract at The Kennedy Space Center, Fla.

Boeing is teaming with Northrop Grumman to obtain Crew Launch Vehicle (CLV) second stage production support contracts in accordance with a January 2005 agreement with Northrop Grumman to pursue Constellation program human space transportation elements.

Boeing Space Exploration, headquartered in Houston, is the leading global supplier of reusable and human space systems and services. Space Exploration, a division within Boeing Integrated Defense Systems’ Network and Space Systems business, employs nearly 4,200 people in Texas, Florida, California and Alabama.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is one of the world’s largest space and defense businesses. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $30.8 billion business. It provides network-centric system solutions to its global military, government, and commercial customers. It is a leading provider of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems; the world’s largest military aircraft manufacturer; the world’s largest satellite manufacturer and a leading provider of space-based communications; the primary systems integrator for U.S. missile defense; NASA’s largest contractor; and a global leader in sustainment solutions and launch services.