The Boeing team that will compete for the upper stage production contract for NASA’s Ares 1 crew launch vehicle includes Hamilton Sundstrand (a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp.), Moog Inc., Northrop Grumman Corp., Orion Propulsion Inc., Summa Technology Inc., United Space Alliance and United Launch Alliance.

Ares 1 will transport the Orion crew exploration vehicle to low Earth orbit under the program to return astronauts to the moon by 2020. NASA is expected to award the upper stage production contract in late August.