Kennedy Space Center to lose thousands of space jobs

William Atkins
Friday, 29 February 2008 20:12

Science - Space

NASA administrator Michael Griffin announced at a U.S. Senate hearing on Wednesday, February 27, 2008, that the Kennedy Space Center will terminate several thousands of contractor employees.             

The reason for the large layoff at Kennedy is because less employees will be needed to process the new Orion spacecraft and Ares launch vehicle.

In addition, Griffin also told the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Space, Aeronautics, and Related Sciences that the Michoud Assembly Facility, New Orleans, Louisiana, will also lose employees.

NASA personnel at Michoud are expected to drop to less than 600, a reduction of about 1,300 employees from its present number of employees. However, Griffin stated that employment will rise again once Orion/Ares is close to becoming operational.

The written report announcing the job cuts was released on Monday, February 25, 2008. The Draft Space Shuttle Program (SSP) Programmatic Environmental Assessment (EA); Transition and Program Property Disposition stated, "A detailed analysis of changes in employment and expenditures at each Center is precluded by the fact that the Constellation Program is at an early stage of development and would be subject to adjustments and changes as requirements become better defined.”

The new Project Constellation is expected to become operational in 2015, while the current Space Transportation System (STS) project (space shuttle fleet) is expected to terminate in the first half of 2010.

Instead of space shuttles the new program will use Orion space capsules, similar to the ones used in the Apollo program, and Ares launch vehicles, similar to the ones used with the space shuttles. One five-section solid rocket booster will be used to launch manned missions, while two five-section solid rocket boosters will be used to launch cargo missions, along with one modified external tank.

Over the next three years, Griffin expects that several thousands of contractor employees will be laid off.

Several NASA centers will experience little or no layoffs. Read on for more information.