Reynolds, Smith and Hills Inc. received a contract from NASA to design the escape system for the agency’ s next generation space exploration vehicle, the company announced June 27.

In the event of an emergency on the pad, the Emergency Egress System will carry astronauts across the launch tower into tram cars that carry them to safety.

Reynolds, Smith and Hills already has designed the lightning protection system for Orion at Launch Pad 39 at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. and is completing the design for its new Mobile Launcher.