Shuttle rocket-builder vying for NASA space taxi work

CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA, May 12: Two of NASA�s prime contractors are teaming with Europe�s Astrium to develop a commercial space taxi built from shuttle heritage booster rockets and a prototype NASA spaceship originally designed as an alternative to the deep-space Orion capsule, the companies announced on Wednesday. The system, known as Liberty, is among at least four contenders for the next phase of NASA�s so-called Commercial Crew program, scheduled to be awarded this summer.(agencies)