BACKUP MISSION CONTROL IN BRYAN?

  

Could we be hearing ‘Mission Control Bryan’ in future space flights?

NASA’s mission control might soon move its back up operations from Alabama to downtown Bryan in the future.

An area start up company, TSTAR, Texas Space Technology Applications and Research, has signed an agreement with the NASA Johnson Space Center that will begin a potentially long term partnership to set up backup mission control capabilities in Bryan.

TSTAR has been working with Innovations Underground, a privately owned business incubator in downtown Bryan.  The first phase of the agreement will consist of a feasibility and assessment period through the end of the year,  at which time TSTAR officials hope that NASA infrastructure and technology ill begin to be moved to the area.

Previously, when Houston had to be evacuated, mission control was moved to Huntsville, Alabama.  Paul Hill, the Director of Mission Operations for NASA says it’s appealing to stay closer to Houston and within Texas.

The deal has been in the works for about a year.  Jose Quintana, the Chief TSTAR technology officer, said the company has already acquired additional property in downtown Bryan to set up, taking advantage of the area’s access to fiber and high speed internet.  He said the company, will be hiring between seven and 12 new employees and then hire more for operating the facility when it is finished.