NASA
has signed a new partnership with Craig Technologies of Melbourne,
Fla., to maintain an inventory of unique processing and manufacturing
equipment for future mission support at the agency’s Kennedy Space
Center in Florida.

Under
a five-year, non-reimbursable Space Act Agreement, NASA will loan 1,600
pieces of equipment to Craig Technologies. The equipment supported
Space Shuttle Program capabilities such as flight hardware and cable
fabrication. It was used in manufacturing, repair and inspection
processes necessary for spaceflight hardware, avionics and ground
processing.

“This
is an innovative way to ensure that space shuttle era technology and
tools are reused for other hi-tech, private sector purposes along the
Space Coast,” said David Weaver, NASA’s associate administrator for the
Office of Communications.”This is all part of NASA’s plan to support the
transition to the next era of exploration, creating good-paying
American jobs and keeping the United States the world leader in space.”

Craig
Technologies will be able to use the equipment for five years beginning
January 2013 or until NASA requires use of it, whichever comes first.
Craig will be required to operate, maintain and store the property at a
single location within a 50-mile radius of Kennedy.

“Kennedy
continues to work with the commercial community to find inventive ways
to share our unique capabilities,” said Joyce Riquelme, manager of the
Kennedy Center Planning and Development Office. “This partnership
benefits new customers who will use the equipment now, and keeps it
close for our use in future spaceflight projects.”

The
equipment currently is located in the NASA Shuttle Logistics Depot in
Cape Canaveral, Fla., and managed by United Space Alliance (USA).

The equipment will remain there through the end of the year when the current USA lease expires.

Source: NASA Kennedy Space Center