In May 2020, SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule launched to the ISS, marking the first NASA astronaut launch from U.S. soil since 2011 and the first by a commercial spacecraft. This was part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, which aimed to involve private companies in developing cost-effective and safe astronaut transport. SpaceX and Boeing were selected, but SpaceX has taken the lead with successful launches while Boeing faced setbacks. The program is seen as a cost-saving initiative for NASA and a business opportunity for the companies involved.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. NASA and SpaceX made history in May by launching astronauts from US soil for the first time since 2011.
2. The launch of SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule to the International Space Station marked the first time a commercially designed and built spacecraft carried astronauts.
3. NASA's Commercial Crew Program was initiated to reduce the cost of space flight and make it more routine.
4. The program was initially slated to launch astronauts to the International Space Station in 2017, but was delayed due to funding cuts and failed tests.
5. SpaceX and Boeing were awarded contracts to build vehicles to fly astronauts to and from the space station, with SpaceX receiving $2.6 billion and Boeing receiving $4.2 billion.
6. The contracts require the companies to cover any additional costs they incur during development, but also allow them to retain their intellectual property rights.
7. NASA estimates that the Commercial Crew Program saved the agency between $20 billion and $30 billion in taxpayer money.
8. SpaceX has already signed a contract to fly three tourists to the International Space Station using its Crew Dragon capsule and Falcon 9 rocket.
9. NASA is partnering with the private sector to get people to the moon by 2024, with contracts awarded to SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Dynetics to begin development of lunar landers.
10. NASA's goal is to be one customer of many for commercial space companies, with providers competing on cost, innovation, and safety.
11. Boeing's space business currently makes up only about 5% of the company's revenue, but could increase as the company faces challenges in the airline industry.
12. SpaceX's successful launch in May marked a major milestone for the company, leaving Boeing to play catch-up.
13. NASA's Commercial Crew Program was inspired by the success of the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program, which demonstrated that private companies could develop spacecraft to deliver cargo to the International Space Station.
14. The COTS program was initiated in the mid-2000s and was a push to see if private companies could develop spacecraft and deliver cargo to the International Space Station.
15. NASA's Shuttle program ended in 2011, leaving a gap in the US capability to launch its own astronauts, with Russia's Soyuz spacecraft becoming the only operating spacecraft capable of launching astronauts to the International Space Station.
16. The cost of launching astronauts on Russia's Soyuz spacecraft increased from $20 million per seat to over $90 million per seat over nine years.
17. NASA's Commercial Crew Program aims to end the dependency on Russia's Soyuz spacecraft and continue the partnership on the International Space Station.
18. SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule is designed to be reusable, with the company even recycling its Falcon 9 rocket.
19. Boeing's Starliner capsule struggled with a propellant leak and a timing system anomaly during its orbital flight test, leading to a major setback for the company.
20. NASA is recommending that Boeing make 80 changes to the Starliner before it's retested later this year.