HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Robert Lightfoot, director of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., today presented three companies with 2009 Marshall Center Contractor Excellence Awards for significant contributions to the Marshall Center’s mission.
Recipients of the contractor awards are ATK Launch Systems of Promontory, Utah; Jacobs Engineering Science and Technical Services Group of Huntsville; and Qualis Corp. of Huntsville.
The awards were presented at Marshall’s annual Center Director’s Breakfast today in Huntsville.
Eligible contractor companies were evaluated for the award on seven criteria: contract technical performance; schedule and cost performance; leadership and quality improvements; customer satisfaction; innovation; and a category that included safety, diversity and outreach.
ATK Launch Systems was honored in the “Large Business — Product” category. ATK provides the space shuttle’s reusable solid rocket motors and booster separation motors. It also developed the first stage for Ares I-X, which had a successful flight test in October 2009, and will deliver the launch abort system motor for the Orion crew capsule.
Jacobs Engineering Science and Technical Services Group was honored in the “Large Business — Service” category. The company provides engineering, scientific, technical and project support services to the Marshall Center for space launch systems, space station, space optics fabrication, spacecraft testing, project offices and exploration systems support.
Qualis Corp. received the “Small Business — Service” category award. The woman-owned company provides a broad range of engineering, scientific, technical and project support services to Marshall projects and activities.
Recipients of the Marshall Center’s Contractor Excellence Award may become nominees for NASA’s George M. Low Award. Named for the former NASA deputy administrator who served from 1969 to 1976, the Low Award is the agency’s oldest and most prestigious award for quality and performance in the aerospace industry.
