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Dozens of Michigan suppliers build parts for Mars spaceship

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WARREN, Mich. (AP) — Part of NASA’s first manned spaceship to Mars will be made in Michigan.

The Detroit News reports the government agency’s new Space Launch System that’s being created to transport humans to Mars in the 2030s relies on dozens of Michigan suppliers that build everything from steering to components covers for harnesses and cables.

Warren-based Futuramic Tool & Engineering is the most vital contributor from Michigan.

The company once made tooling that modeled metal for the body of every single car in Ford Motor Co.’s lineup. But the automaker outsourced that work to Mexico about 15 years ago, and the supplier was forced to diversify to the aerospace industry.

Futuramic has manufacturing plants in Detroit and Warren that build the parts, which are shipped to NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, where the rocket is being built.