Andrews Space Inc. has joined Rocketplane Kistler to work on NASA‘s Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program, the companies announced Sept. 28.

Rocketplane Kistler and Orbital Sciences Corp. received a contract in August to develop a vehicle that can demonstrate the ability to loft cargo and eventually crew members to the International Space Station (ISS). The contract, valued at about $207 million, calls for a test flight of the vehicle in 2008.

Orbital was to have been responsible for project management, systems integration, launch operations and safety, and mission assurance. Andrews will replace Orbital and provide systems engineering and integration and safety and mission assurance and also make an investment in Rocketplane Kistler

“Having studied the substantial amount of work that has been accomplished on the K-1 program and the planning that is already in place, we are convinced that it can be operational in a relatively short period of time,” Jason Andrews, president of Andrews, said in a statement.

Rocketplane Kistler did not comment on the reason Orbital is no longer part of the COTS effort.