NASA voids spacesuit contract

WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 (UPI) -- The U.S. space agency says it has voided the contract for the Constellation space suit system awarded in June to Oceaneering International Inc. of Houston.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, in a statement, said "NASA determined that a compliance issue requires the termination of the contract. …" The action involved a complaint concerning NASA's bidding process that was filed with the Government Accountability Office by Exploration Systems & Technology Inc. of Houston.

The cost-plus-award spacesuit contract has a value of $183.8 million, with options totaling more than approximately $506 million, NASA said when awarding the contract in June.

"NASA anticipates that corrective action will involve reconsideration of its procurement decision," the space agency said in its statement.

The spacesuit will be designed to protect astronauts during Constellation Program voyages to the International Space Station and, by 2020, the surface of the moon.