[SatNews] This new contract will provide a payload processing services and facilities in support of NASA...

Astrotech Corporation (Nasdaq:ASTC) has announced that its Astrotech Space Operations (ASO) subsidiary has won a fully-funded task order under the previously announced indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract for payload processing support at the Eastern Range. The Company will provide facilities and payload processing services from its Titusville, Florida, location in support of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Radiation Belt Storm Probes (RBSP) mission scheduled to launch in September 2012. On July 26, 2010, Astrotech announced the award of a $9.5 million indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract with NASA for payload processing support services associated with potential future missions. RBSP is the third mission awarded to Astrotech under the IDIQ contract. The Radiation Belt Storm Probes mission is part of NASA's Living With a Star Geospace program to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system. RBSP is being designed to help NASA understand the sun's influence on the Earth and near-Earth space by studying the planet's radiation belts on various scales of space and time. 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, including advance planning; use of unique facilities; and spacecraft checkout, encapsulation, fueling, and transport. In its 30 year history, ASO has supported the processing of more than 290 spacecraft without impacting a customer's launch schedule.