Pratt & Whitney gets NASA contract award

HOUSTON, June 16 (UPI) -- The U.S. space agency says it has given a $16.8 million contract modification to space shuttle engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne Inc.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration said the modification will allow the Canoga Park, Calif., company to implement an employee retention plan. That plan includes incentives to eligible personnel "to ensure mission success and construction of the remaining engines to support space shuttle requirements through September 2010," NASA said. "Retention of the knowledgeable and skilled space shuttle main engine workforce is necessary to produce the remaining shuttle hardware."

The contract will end Sept. 30, 2010, and the modification brings the total value of the contract that was awarded in January 2002 to $2.1 billion.