[SatNews] This new contract finds the prime focus to be on payloads...

Astrotech Corporation (Nasdaq:ASTC), a provider of commercial aerospace services, announced that its Astrotech Space Operations subsidiary ("ASO") has been awarded a $4.0 million contract for payload processing services in support of the U.S. government. Don M. White Jr., Senior Vice President and General Manager of Astrotech Space Operations, said, "Astrotech's specialized, state of the art facilities made us an ideal fit for this mission and we are excited to offer the U.S. government a full complement of processing and facility services." From Titusville, Florida, and Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Astrotech Space Operations provides all support necessary for government and commercial customers to successfully process their satellite hardware for launch. The Company's service offering includes advance planning; use of our unique facilities; and spacecraft checkout, encapsulation, fueling, and transport. Additionally, ASO has extensive experience in designing, building, and operating spacecraft processing equipment and facilities. In its 29 year history, ASO has supported the processing of more than 290 spacecraft without impacting a customer's launch schedule.