Fri, Aug 18, 2006
Selects Crew and Cargo Transportation to Orbit
Partners
NASA selected SpaceX,
El Segundo, Calif. and Rocketplane-Kistler, Oklahoma City, to
develop and demonstrate commercial orbital transportation services
that could open new markets and pave the way for contracts to
launch and deliver crew and cargo to the International Space
Station.
NASA and the two companies signed Space Act Agreements that
establish milestones and objective criteria to assess their
progress throughout Phase 1 of the competition. Once a capability
is demonstrated, NASA plans to purchase crew and cargo delivery
services competitively in Phase 2.
"NASA is proud to work with SpaceX and Rocketplane-Kistler as
they endeavor to take American entrepreneurial spirit to new
heights," said NASA's Exploration Systems Mission Directorate
Associate Administrator Scott Horowitz.
"When commercial enterprises turn the journey to low-Earth orbit
into a profit-making business model, NASA will be free to focus on
goals that are more appropriate for government, such as exploration
of the moon and Mars."
In Phase 1, the companies will demonstrate a combination of four
capabilities: external (unpressurized) cargo delivery and disposal;
internal (pressurized) cargo delivery and disposal; internal cargo
delivery and return; and an option for crew transportation.
"These companies were selected from a total of 20 applicants,
based on solid engineering of innovative concepts and sound
business plans," said Alan Lindenmoyer, manager of the Commercial
Crew and Cargo Program Office at the Johnson Space Center,
Houston.
More News
From 2023 (YouTube Version): Legacy of a Titan Robert (Bob) Anderson Hoover was a fighter pilot, test pilot, flight instructor, and air show superstar. More so, Bob Hoover was an i>[...]
Get The Latest in Aviation News NOW on Instagram Are you on Instagram yet? It's been around for a few years, quietly picking up traction mostly thanks to everybody's new obsession >[...]
Aero Linx: B-52H Stratofortress The B-52H Stratofortress is a long-range, heavy bomber that can perform a variety of missions. The bomber is capable of flying at high subsonic spee>[...]
Altimeter Setting The barometric pressure reading used to adjust a pressure altimeter for variations in existing atmospheric pressure or to the standard altimeter setting (29.92).>[...]
"Knowing that we play an active part in bettering people's lives is extremely rewarding. My team and I are very thankful for the opportunity to be here and to help in any way we ca>[...]