NASA, Maritime Administration Announce New Home For Liberty Star

Aug. 21, 2012

Joshua Buck
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1100
jbuck@nasa.gov


RELEASE: 12-283

NASA, MARITIME ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCE NEW HOME FOR LIBERTY STAR

WASHINGTON -- NASA and the Transportation Department's Maritime
Administration (MARAD) signed a memorandum of understanding Aug. 21
to transfer NASA's solid rocket booster recovery ship, M/V Liberty
Star, to the National Defense Reserve Fleet for use as a training
vessel at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, N.Y.

"Liberty Star served NASA well during the Space Shuttle Program," said
Robert Lightfoot, acting associate administrator for NASA. "We know
it will greatly benefit the Kings Point midshipmen, and we're proud
that Liberty Star will continue to serve the United States with
distinction."

With the end of the Space Shuttle Program, the two agencies worked
together to ensure Liberty Star could continue service as a training
vessel for midshipmen at the Merchant Marine Academy. This agreement
is mutually beneficial for NASA and MARAD. This ship will serve as a
training vessel at the academy, providing significant merchant marine
training value to Kings Point midshipmen as the vessel has dynamic
positioning, modern towing capabilities and other features that will
expand training opportunities. NASA will continue to have access to
Liberty Star if the agency requires its use and it is available.

"This agreement is a win-win for both Kings Point and NASA," said
Maritime Administrator David Matsuda. "The ship's high tech equipment
and real world capabilities closely mirror what graduates will see
entering the maritime work force."

Liberty Star was launched in 1981 and served as one of two recovery
vessels for retrieving the space shuttle's solid rocket boosters,
which were jettisoned about 2 minutes after launch from NASA's
Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA still is working to identify a
suitable new use for M/V Freedom Star, the other recovery ship.

For information about NASA and agency programs, visit:


http://www.nasa.gov

For information about the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, visit:

http://www.usmma.edu/


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