WASHINGTON -- NASA has awarded a $206.5 million contract to United Space Alliance of Houston to provide mission and flight crew operations support for the International Space Station and human space exploration activities after the space shuttle is retired.

The two-year, 11-month Integrated Mission Operations Contract covers ground-based human spaceflight operations capability development and execution, including support to mission planning and preparation, crew and flight controller training, and real-time mission execution. The initial period of the contract extends from Nov. 1, 2008, to Sept. 30, 2011.

The cost-plus-award-fee contract provides for an optional one-year extension, which would increase the total value of the contract to $371 million. The extension period, if exercised, would be from Oct. 1, 2011, to Sept. 30, 2012.

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