This one jumps out at me: “USA has been talking to the Huntsville Chamber of Commerce about securing jobs with the Missile Defense Agency after the shuttle is retired” since it sounds like the MDA might agree to leave some jobs open for months – until the Shuttle retires and the hardware is all dispositioned and the workers are ready to move. That leaves them vulnerable in case the Shuttle slips, things take more time, the workers drift off to other areas, etc etc etc.

The contractor with MDA (possibly USA?) could not hold the jobs open – they would get slammed for non-performance, by the government. They would surrender lots of money, since they could not charge hours to the contract.

Besides, many of the Shuttle jobs are hourly but MDA jobs would be professional – unless MDA is going to build hardware in Alabama. MDA must be doing R&D and ops and professional jobs in Alabama.

As the Shuttle retires, and as MDA moves to Huntsville – the hourly workers at KSC will drift away. And before the professionals can move – the jobs in Alabama will have been given to cheaper, younger employees.