QinetiQ North America will support projects at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, such as the Hubble Space Telescope.

NASA has awarded QinetiQ with a $190 million (£95million) contract to support its Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, US.

Under the five-year deal, QinetiQ North America’s (QNA) Missions Solutions Group (MSG) will provide NASA with a wide range of environmental test and integration support services.

The contract opens up potential for QNA to be involved in a variety of projects at the centre, including the Hubble Space Telescope, the James Webb Space Telescope, and the Solar Dynamics Observatory.

The company will provide support such as facility services, cable fabrication, optical services and thermal blanket fabrication.

QNA will also work to ensure that all future spacecraft can endure the environmental hardships of space travel. This will include thermal and vacuum chamber testing, mechanical and optical integration, and equipment recertification.

Michael G. Stolarik, President, QNA Mission Solutions Group, said: “This win underscores our long partnership with NASA. The environmental test and integration services award is recognition of our high level of performance in supporting complex, mission-related engineering requirements.

“We look forward to working with Goddard Space Flight Center in ensuring that all future spacecraft can endure the environmental hardships of space travel.”

By Natasha Piscitelli