Branson Brooks
V2X has received a $265 million contract to ensure safe training for astronauts at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.
The company said Monday that under the contract, it will work to provide technical support for the hardware and software systems of the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory.
Housed within the Sonny Carter Training Facility at JSC, the NBL is used by astronauts to train for the recovery segment of their mission, when their spacecraft splashes down into the ocean. It can also be used by astronauts to practice working in a microgravity environment with the help of a replica of the International Space Station.
The laboratory will also help astronauts train for the Artemis 2 lunar mission, which will feature the first woman and person of color to visit the moon, Christina Koch and Victor Glover, serving as humanity’s return to space after more than 50 years. Set for launch in September 2025, Artemis 2 is targeting a landing site near the lunar south pole, an environment that will require extensive preparation.
V2X had recently worked with NASA to convert a portion of the NBL into a realistic model of the moon’s surface.
Commenting on the contract, V2X President and CEO Jeremy Wensinger said he and his organization are honored to continue working with the space agency, adding, “The Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory is an unparalleled facility, and we are committed to ensuring its readiness for the next generation of space exploration, including the groundbreaking Artemis 2 mission.”
The contract’s period of performance, including options, extends until 2033.
