NASA has issued a request for information soliciting ideas on ground processing services for its Constellation Program and the next generation of space vehicles.

The request seeks input from industry to assist NASA in planning for the acquisition of ground processing, assembly, integration, test, launch and recovery services at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

These services will support the Orion crew exploration vehicle, the Ares I crew launch vehicle and the Ares V cargo launch vehicle beginning with the first Constellation Program flight tests and continuing with actual missions to the International Space Station and the moon. NASA hopes to issue a draft request for proposals in Spring 2008 and to award a contract in Summer 2009.

The Constellation family of spacecraft is being developed by NASA's Exploration Systems Mission Directorate.

For information about the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate and the Request for Information, visit: http://exploration.nasa.gov

For information about NASA and agency programs, visit: www.nasa.gov