United Launch Alliance (ULA) today announced it selected Hensel Phelps Construction Co. of Orlando, Florida, to provide program management contractor support to ULA’s efforts on NASA’s Commercial Crew Integrated Capability (CCiCap) program at Space Launch Complex (SLC) 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.
During this 21-month effort, Hensel Phelps will partner with ULA in the management of the design, requirements development, cost and schedule projections, and risk mitigation for modifications to the launch facilities for commercial crew operations. The project could ultimately create 250-300 skilled aerospace and construction jobs in Brevard County.
“Hensel Phelps brings significant experience working major construction projects including the original construction for Atlas V at SLC-41, as well as Atlas modifications at SLC-3 in California,” said Dr. George Sowers, ULA vice president of Human Launch Services. “We are honored that The Boeing Company with its Crew Space Transportation (CST)-100 spacecraft has selected our flight-proven Atlas V launch vehicle and will be our partners as we move into this next phase of development.”
Hensel Phelps will assist with the design and development of the crew access tower and the crew access arm which will provide access to the commercial crew space vehicle for cargo and crew loading; the emergency egress system which will provide the flight crew and support personnel with a method to quickly evacuate in the unlikely event of a contingency event and a safe haven which will provide a safe environment for the crew and support personnel until they can be evacuated to another location.
“Hensel Phelps is excited about teaming with ULA and their partners on the modifications of SLC-41,” said Kirk Hazen, vice president of Hensel Phelps. “It is an honor and privilege to be a part of the next generation of human space flight.”
“With 33 successful missions spanning a decade of operational service, the commercially developed Atlas V is uniquely qualified to provide launch services for the Crew Transportation System,” said Sowers. “We look forward to working with Hensel Phelps to take the next steps in launching crew from SLC-41 and providing safe and reliable crew launch services as early as 2015.”
In addition to Boeing, Sierra Nevada Corporation has also selected the Atlas V as the launch vehicle to launch its Dream Chaser® Space System.
ULA program management, engineering, test and mission support functions are headquartered in Denver, Colo. Manufacturing, assembly and integration operations are located at Decatur, Ala., and Harlingen, Texas. Launch operations are located at Cape Canaveral AFS, Fla., and Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
