[12-13-07 – Satellite Today] Boeing Co. has been awarded a $265 million contract by NASA to produce the avionics for the Ares 1, Boeing announced Dec. 12.
    The instrument unit avionics will provide the guidance, navigation and control hardware for the crew launch vehicle. Boeing will produce three flight test units and six production units, with an option to produce four additional units per year from 2014 to 2016.
    The Ares I will launch the Orion crew exploration vehicle, which will join other elements of NASA’s Constellation program to propel astronauts to the moon by 2020.
    "We will apply proven practices and expertise from several Boeing programs, including EA-18G Growler, Future Combat Systems and Ground-based Midcourse Defense, among others,” Roger Krone, president of Boeing Network and Space Systems, said in a statement.
    Boeing was selected as the Ares 1 upper stage production contractor in  August.