NASA Langley Lands Role on Moon, Mars Work

NASA’s Langley Research Center has picked up new work assignments that officials say will help secure its long-term role in the quest to send humans back to the moon and on to Mars.

It’s not known whether that will bring more money or jobs to the Hampton center, but NASA’s Tuesday announcement is "a good message," said Dave Bowles, who heads up its space exploration. "What it tells me is that the agency recognizes Langley as a key contributor to the vision for exploration for the long haul."

Langley’s space work now is focused on the module and rocket needed to ferry humans to the moon and back. It is leading development of emergency abort and landing systems for the Orion crew vehicle and is testing the aerodynamics of the Ares I rocket to power it into orbit.

In the next phase of work, expected to ramp up around 2011, Langley will turn to sustaining a human presence on the moon, including how astronauts might "live off the land." It will involve work on a lunar lander and lunar surface systems, such as rovers and power and life-support modules. The center also will help test a launch rocket designed to carry cargo aloft.

Lesa Roe, Langley’s director, said the center had "actively gone after the work " and called it a "huge deal for us."