Alliant Techsystems wants to build new NASA rocket
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Alliant Techsystems Inc. hopes NASA will pick its rocket design to fly astronauts to the International Space Station.
Alliant, now known as ATK, is teaming up with European rocket company Astrium to pitch the rocket design to NASA.
NASA is looking for a new rocket to use after its space shuttles are retired this year. The government space agency will look at competing proposals and make a decision in April.
Brian Grace, is a spokesman for ATK, said the companies are already planning and building the rocket, which could be used for commercial flights to space if the companies don't get the NASA contract.
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"Our plan is to build this rocket and make it available regardless," Grace said.
ATK's rocket would be ready to deliver crews to the space station in 2015.
Grace said the rockets would be built at an ATK facility in Utah.
ATK is based in Eden Prairie and has about 18,000 employees working in facilities in 24 states.
You can read the company's news release here.
