NASA Seeks Proposals for Crew and Cargo Transportation to Orbit

spaceref.com ^ | 01/18/06

[KevinDavis]

NASA is challenging U.S. industry to establish capabilities and services that can open new space markets and support the crew and cargo transportation needs of the International Space Station.

[KevinDavis]

[Names Ash Housewares]

Here is private industrys chance!

Lets see who steps up to the plate.

[Moonman62]

I predict the startups will stay away, but the usual large aerospace companies will apply.

[ZOOKER]

SpaceX is still grounded.

Virgin Galactic is more interested in the tourist trade.

I suspect the first bidders to be no surprise --- Boeing and Martin-Marietta. They already have satellite delivery systems in place, rigging them to dock with ISS should be fairly simple.

Big surprise? Arianne invites itself into the competition, by lawsuit if necessary. It's Airbus vs. Boeing again, this time in space.

[SunkenCiv]

NASA is challenging U.S. industry to establish capabilities and services that can open new space markets and support the crew and cargo transportation needs of the International Space Station.

U.S. industry replies, "you first, NASA."

By the time it's completed, the only transportation needs for the ISS will be the deceleration burn when it's ditched into the Pacific.