NASA took a significant step Friday toward expanding research opportunities aboard the global Space Station with its first mission order from Hawthorne, California based-company SpaceX to launch astronauts from US soil.
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The SpaceX missions will mean a savings of $80 million for each NASA astronaut, as that is what the Russia’s Soyuz rockets cost to get astronauts and supplies to the ISS. Boeing’s joint venture with Lockheed Martin Corp. got the green light from the program six months ago. 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. He says unless the funding shortfall is covered, the launch won’t happen in 2017 and will likely have to be pushed back to the following year. The SpaceX contract will take the astronauts to the ISS via their Dragon spacecraft, which can hold up to seven people. She highlighted the importance of having at least two homebred capabilities “to deliver crew and critical scientific experiments from American soil to the space station”.
NASA said the first commercial crew order from SpaceX is for late 2017 missions, provided SpaceX’s transportation system meets readiness conditions.
Boeing will be launching their CST-100 Starliner as SpaceX will use its Crew Dragon vehicle for the manned missions to the ISS. But it was a bit of relaxation for SpaceX, as it has faced a severe accident in June in which its Falcon 9 rocket fell apart. Each company also must successfully complete a certification process before NASA will give the final approval for flight. “We’re honored to be developing this capability for NASA and our country”, said SpaceX President and COO Gwynne Shotwell.
Mission orders are created two to three years before projected mission dates, giving time for manufacturing and assembly of the spacecrafts and launch systems. The spacecraft will remain at the station for up to 210 days, available as an emergency lifeboat during that time.
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The space agency’s Commercial Crew Program has allowed private firms SpaceX and Boeing to ferry USA astronauts to and from the ISS. The program also will be involved in all operational phases of missions to ensure crew safety.
