Innovation from today to the future.
MISSION OPERATIONS • SYSTEM INGENUITY • ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS
_edited_edi.png)
Your Partner for Complex Mission Operations and Systems Support
ASCEND Aerospace & Technology, LLC (ASCEND) is an All-Small Mentor-Protégé Program (ASMPP) Joint Venture between Aerodyne Industries, LLC and Amentum. Building on more than a decade of successful collaboration as award-winning contractors, ASCEND combines deep expertise in mission operations, training systems, and engineering support. Together, our partner companies bring over six decades of experience supporting complex government programs and managing thousands of employees across multiple centers and facilities nationwide.
ASCEND Contract Awards
NASA has officially announced the award of the Contract for Organizing Spaceflight Mission Operations and Systems (COSMOS) to ASCEND Aerospace & Technology for work supporting Johnson Space Center in Houston.
The COSMOS contract is a single-award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract valued at $1.8 billion. ASCEND Aerospace & Technology is a joint venture between The Aerodyne Company of Cape Canaveral, Florida, and Jacobs Technology Company of Tullahoma, Tennessee.
Under COSMOS, ASCEND will support NASA’s Flight Operations Directorate, including the Orion and Space Launch System Programs, the International Space Station, Commercial Crew Program, and the Artemis campaign. Responsibilities include mission control center systems, training systems, astronaut and flight controller training, and operations within the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility, helping ensure the success of NASA’s current and future human spaceflight missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
Following the initial award announcement, a protest was filed and has since been adjudicated by the government. NASA’s announcement reflects the updated status of the COSMOS award and ASCEND remains positioned to support the agency’s critical human spaceflight operations and exploration missions.
About COSMOS
The Contract for Organizing Spaceflight Mission Operations and Systems (COSMOS) is NASA’s next-generation mission operations contract at Johnson Space Center. COSMOS ensures the continuity of critical human spaceflight support by providing mission control services, advanced training systems, and full-scale spacecraft mockups for astronaut preparation and engineering analysis. Through this contract, ASCEND will build on its legacy of operational excellence and bring innovative solutions to enable the success of current and future exploration missions.
COSMOS FAQs
COSMOS TRANSITION
Share what works, scale what matters
We’re committed to ensuring every team member experiences a smooth and confident transition. The heart of our mission - operational excellence and crew safety - remains unshakable. What’s transforming are the ways we empower you, making your work easier and its value recognized and celebrated.
To ensure a seamless transition, the COSMOS Welcome Center will be open throughout the duration of Phase-In and will continue supporting personnel following the contract start date. The Welcome Center is in building B30A, room number 2020.
We also have one final Town Hall scheduled for Wednesday, May 13, at 5:00 PM CST in the Teague Auditorium. Anyone interested in the contract or seeking additional transition updates is encouraged to attend.