NASA is taking steps to bring certain jobs back in-house, transitioning roles from contractors like Amentum, which recently announced layoffs of 70 positions at Kennedy Space Center (KSC). The change is part of NASA’s effort to regain core competencies identified by Administrator Jared Isaacman, particularly after concerns arose from the Commercial Crew Program’s Boeing Starliner test flight, which suffered significant technical issues.
Amentum, which had about 2,800 employees at KSC, provided essential support in operations like driving the crawler transporter for Artemis rockets and assisting astronauts before launch. With this shift, many engineers and support roles will be transitioned back to NASA, reinforcing its internal capabilities.
This adjustment is part of a broader strategy to ensure better oversight and integration in NASA’s programs, promoting a balance between leveraging commercial partnerships and maintaining core expertise for mission success. Recently, KSC welcomed 150 new civil servants to bolster its operational capabilities.
