(via chron.com)
NASA’s primary contractor for the space shuttle, United Space Alliance, announced today it will lay off 15 percent of its workforce by Oct. 1.
The cuts were not unexpected with the shuttle program’s end looming as early as February, 2011.
The Houston-based company employs approximately 8,100 employees at its Florida, Texas and Alabama sites, including nearly 3,000 in the Houston area. The cuts will reduce as many as 400 positions from the Houston office.
NASA currently plans two final shuttle flights to the International Space Station, one in November and another in February. Some members in Congress have discussed an additional flight next summer. If that occurs, said United Space Alliance spokeswoman Kari Fluegel, future job cuts may be delayed.
Despite knowing that layoffs were coming, the space shuttle program employees have produced a good deal of success during the last year or so, launching eight flights in 14 months and setting records for rapid processing of shuttles and lowest numbers of in-flight anomalies.
“These government contractor teams are unquestionably performing at an incredibly high level,” John Shannon, space shuttle program manager, wrote in a letter to his employees last month. “I am extremely proud of how all of you are maintaining your focus and completing the incredible legacy of the space shuttle program.”
