SAIC gives Constellation program a boost

Science Applications International Corp. will support NASA’s Constellation program under a contract that could be worth as much as $69 million.

Under the contract, SAIC will provide engineering and technical services for the program’s Ground Operations Project Office at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., company officials said today. The contractor will also supply business management and administrative services.

The contract has a base period of two years with options that could extend it for three more years and a line-item option to cover other requirements, officials said.

The Constellation program was established to develop a next-generation U.S. spaceship to replace the aging space shuttle. The new system consists of the Orion capsule and the Ares rocket necessary to launch Orion.

SAIC, of San Diego, ranks No. 5 on Washington Technology’s 2008 Top 100 list of the largest federal government prime contractors.