Space Company to Slash 160 Houston Jobs

HOUSTON - United Space Alliance, a space operations company partnered with NASA, announced on Tuesday plans to lay off 400 employee, including 160 in the Houston area.

The company hasn't developed a detailed plan, but the reductions must be made before the U.S. government's fiscal year stats in October, United Space Alliance Spokesman Jeff Carr said.

“All of our funding comes from the federal government,” Carr said. “(The plans are) based on NASA’s plans to fly 6 times in 2010 and then retire the shuttle.”

About 9,300 workers are currently employed at the company, which has offices in Houston and southern Florida, Carr said. The company is aiming to reduce personnel to 8,900 by slashing 160 jobs in Houston and the rest in Florida.

“After the shuttle, we have ongoing work with the International Space Station,” Carr said.

“There is life beyond shuttle for united alliance.”

The company is under contract with Ares launch vehicle and with the Orion crew vehicle, he said. Employees who survive the layoffs will be working on those projects.