NASA Signs On SpaceX To Deliver Astronauts To The ISS

In 2014, NASA has given contracts to SpaceX and Boeing to build rockets to carry astronauts to the ISS from 2017.

Besides the SpaceX contract to take ISS astronauts up into space, NASA also has a contract with Boeing to perform a similar function in which Boeing plans to use its Starline spacecraft. According to NASA’s Commercial Crew Program manager Kathy Lueders, this is exciting news for the two commercial companies to launch their first ever crew missions.

The flight isn’t set to happen until late 2017.

The SpaceX order is the second in the series of four guaranteed orders under the Commercial Crew Transportation Capability or CCtCap which was awarded in September past year. It’s still unknown which company will actually be the first to fly its manned mission. The Boeing Company of Houston received its first crew mission order in May. On Friday, NASA took significant step towards expanding research opportunities on board the ISS with its first mission order from Hawthorne, California based SpaceX to launch astronauts from USA soil.

With the SpaceX contract, the Dragon spacecraft will replace the Russian contract and NASA hopes it will become a safe, reusable and comparatively affordable way of transport that can be used for ISS missions.

SpaceX has conducted the critical design evaluation phase on the Crew Dragon space vehicle and Falcon 9 rocket that comprise its crew transportation platform, the space agency said Saturday. “We’re honored to be developing this capability for NASA and our country”.

Mission orders are carried out two to three years prior to scheduled mission dates for the development and manufacturing of spacecrafts and rocket launch systems.

It’s like an indirect confirmation that in addition to sending Americans to ISS, in the future, NASA could also partner with aerospace companies to send astronauts to other parts of our Solar System’s neighborhood, for instance, the moon, or even the red planet Mars. The program will allow the astronauts to reach the ISS on a vehicle made in the USA and at a lower cost. Each contract includes a minimum of two and a maximum potential of six missions.

“Commercial crew launches are really important for helping us meet the demand for research on the space station”, said Julie Robinson, global Space Station chief scientist. The Crew Dragon is expected to dock at the space station for a period of 210 days that will also serve as an emergency escape vehicle.