According to the official reports, NASA announced the award on Tuesday of a Space Network ground segment sustainment project contract to General Dynamics C4 Systems of Scottsdale, Ariz.

The contract, with a potential value of about $642 million, including options, runs through June 2017.

It has been reported that the project is part of NASA's Space Network that provides the resources for global space-to-ground telecommunications and tracking coverage for low-Earth orbit and near-Earth robotic and human spaceflight missions.

The Space Network ground segment includes facilities and systems located at the White Sands Complex in New Mexico, the Remote Ground Terminal in Guam and the Space Network Expansion East in Maryland.

NASA further said, "Under the Space Network ground segment sustainment contract, General Dynamics will modernize the ground segment to enable the Space Network to continue to deliver high quality services, meet stakeholder requirements, and significantly reduce required operations and maintenance resources. The work includes replacing obsolete systems, creating a more flexible and expandable architecture, facilitating the integration of NASA's space communications and navigation networks, addressing customer requirements and advances in technology … and maintaining long-term operational performance, reliability and maintainability." (With Inputs from Agencies)