Posted: Thu, Jul 29, 2010, 6:42 AM ET (1042 GMT)
The prime contractor for space shuttle operations has given layoff notices to over 1,000 workers this week. United Space Alliance (USA) issued 60-day noticed of impending layoffs to nearly 1,400 of its employees, including 900 in Florida. The workers are being laid off as USA begins to wind down shuttle operations, with only two missions remaining on the current manifest, one in November and one in February of next year. Several thousand additional workers are likely to use their jobs as the shuttle is retired.

Related Links:

•  Florida Today article
•  SPACE.com article
•  Reuters article
•  Central Florida News 13 article
•  AP article