Two recent developments on Capitol Hill may help to ensure continued rocket production at the Top of Utah ATK companies, members of Utah's congressional delegation say.
Legislation passed Thursday by the U.S. Senate provides an additional $1.4 billion in funding for the Ares I, the next-generation moon rocket.
ATK Systems of Promontory is the prime contractor for the rocket booster being built for NASA, and 700 Utah jobs are tied to the survival of the project.
The Senate voted 71-28 for a massive spending bill that would restore money cut from manned space exploration by the U.S. House in June. The Senate and House still have to reach a budgetary compromise on the measure.
Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, hailed the full fiscal-year funding of the Ares I, which had a six-minute flight test of the motor last month.
"Ares I offers the maximum flexibility, and is the only rocket booster designed for the safety standards required for human flight, to achieve the objectives of Project Constellation or whatever new manned space program NASA decides upon," Hatch said in a news release.
The legislation also put money toward the Ares V, a cargo version of the rocket project to be built later.
"This is also vitally important to my home state of Utah, where many companies and their employees participate in space exploration and rely on this very important work to advance our national interest while providing for their families," Hatch added after delivering his remarks on the Senate floor.
The phaseout of the space shuttle was blamed for more than 500 positions being eliminated by ATK in Utah last month.
The Senate support for the NASA program comes at time when a presidential panel, the Augustine Commission, earlier this fall suggested there may be private alternatives to constructing Ares for the next phase of space exploration to lower orbit and beyond.
"This is such an important program for Utah and for the entire United States. As a member of the House NASA Action Team, I remain dedicated to working with fellow House colleagues to ensure that funding for the Ares I program is protected through the conference process," Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, said in a written statement for the Standard-Examiner.
In a second development, there are reports on Capitol Hill that the Air Force has released money to contractors that would temporarily help missile production at ATK.
George Torres, an ATK vice president based in Salt Lake City, said the money could help begin to maintain jobs on the missile production line.
An Air Force spokesman could not be contacted to confirm the release of the money. But Bishop's office believes the money released is nearly $4 million to help begin work on the lines transition to producing a minimum amount of product.
Bishop estimated that means the survival of more than 100 jobs.
The Obama administration had decided to cut production of the Minuteman rocket, a product with ties to both ATK and Hill Air Force Base.
But Utah's congressional delegation has been working to keep the missile-production capability online for at least another year until a full study has been done on the missiles.
Comments