NASA Signs Agreement With United Paradyne For Use Of Facility

[jacqmans]

NASA SIGNS AGREEMENT WITH UNITED PARADYNE FOR USE OF FACILITY

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida has
signed a new partnership agreement with United Paradyne Corporation
of Santa Maria, Calif., for use of the Hypergolic Maintenance
Facility, or HMF.

The HMF previously was used during NASA's Apollo and Space Shuttle
Programs. Because of NASA's transition from the shuttle to future
commercial and government mission activities, this agreement allows
NASA to preserve the unique facility capabilities for future
spaceflight projects.

United Paradyne will utilize the HMF to provide offline processing
support services in the storage, delivery, handling and maintenance
of hypergolic and green propellant commodities and satellite fueling
operations. The company also will provide services to refurbish,
manufacture and assemble test ground support equipment.

"Kennedy continues to work with the commercial community to find
innovative ways to use and preserve our unique capabilities," said
Kennedy Director Bob Cabana. "With the support of organizations such
as the Economic Development Commission of Florida's Space Coast,
Kennedy Space Center is well on its way to becoming a world-class
multiuser launch complex. We look forward to our partnership with
United Paradyne and its contributions to America's space program."

Under a 15-year lease agreement, United Paradyne will operate and
maintain the facility at its own expense. The company, which will
access the facility in June, will employ approximately 12 aerospace
workers within the first year and has a goal of achieving 50 new jobs
over the next four years.

Kennedy's center planning and development team and the Economic
Development Commission of Florida's Space Coast worked with the
company to establish the agreement.

United Paradyne Corporation is a privately held business specializing
in hypergolic storage facility operations and satellite fueling
services.

Kennedy is positioning itself for the next era of space exploration,
transitioning to a 21st century launch facility with multiple users,
both private and government. A dynamic infrastructure is taking
shape, designed to host many kinds of spacecraft and rockets sending
people on America's next adventures in space.

For more information about United Paradyne Corporation, visit:

http://www.unitedparadyne.com

For more information about Kennedy, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/kennedy

       
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