Harris awarded $70 million contract for CRAVE program by NASA

Harris Corporation, an international communications and information technology company, has been awarded a contract for NASA's Crew, Robotics, Avionics, and Vehicle Equipment (CRAVE) program as part of the Oceaneering Space Systems, Inc. team. The Oceaneering team is one of three industry teams and two universities selected to participate in the five-year Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract, which has a ceiling value of $70 million. CRAVE contracts will cover a wide range of tasks for all human spaceflight programs supported by the Johnson Space Center Engineering Directorate, including the Space Shuttle, Space Station and Exploration. Contracts may range from communications, avionics and ventilation systems to space suit modifications and new hand tools for astronauts. As part of the Oceaneering team, Harris will provide design, development, manufacturing, testing and sustainment of space communications systems and equipment. The company also will support Oceaneering in networking and robotic command and control tasks as required. "This award represents a strategic win for Harris in a targeted growth market," said Frank Van Rensselaer, vice president, NASA Programs, Harris Government Communications Systems. "CRAVE is an important initiative to support NASA in the next generation of human and robotic spaceflight programs." Harris has supported major NASA programs since the 1960s, including Apollo, Space Shuttle and the International Space Station. The company conducts advanced research studies and develops network architectures that provide NASA with highly reliable space and terrestrial communications and help solve the agency's unique, mission-critical program challenges.