SpaceX and Boeing will start sending astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2017, the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has confirmed.
In 2014, under the Commercial Crew Program (CCP), NASA awarded contracts to SpaceX and Boeing to start sending astronauts to the ISS from U.S. soil. The contracts were a step forward for ending the reliance on Russia for sending astronauts to the space station.
NASA revealed last year that the CCP contract to Boeing was worth up to $4.2 billion and up to $2.6 billion for SpaceX.
"Under Commercial Crew Transportation Capability (CCtCap) contracts for NASA's Launch America initiative, Boeing and SpaceX will develop safe, reliable and cost-effective crew transportation to and from the International Space Station on American spacecraft launched from the United States," stated NASA.
The U.S. aims at having an American launch vehicle and spacecraft that enable the transportation of astronauts to the ISS. The spacecraft will be owned, designed, built and operated by SpaceX and Boeing while NASA will buy the services.
NASA also said that launchpads are already being upgraded and hardware is being delivered. Both SpaceX and Boeing have already achieved their first milestones.
Boeing is expected to launch an uncrewed flight test in April 2017 and a crewed flight test in July 2017.
SpaceX has laid down an aggressive schedule and is planning for an uncrewed flight test for late 2016 and a crewed flight test in early 2017.
"This work is part of a vital strategy to equip our nation with the technologies for the future and inspire a new generation of explorers to take the next giant leap for America," said Charlie Bolden, NASA administrator.
Kathy Lueders, NASA's CCP manager, revealed that the average cost for a seat on either SpaceX's Dragon or Boeing's CST-100 capsule will cost around $58 million, which is low in comparison to the $71 million per seat that is currently charged by Russia for sending astronauts to the ISS on its Soyuz spacecraft.
NASA has been regularly sending its astronauts to the ISS in the last few years, with at least one of its astronauts on the station in the past 14 years. One NASA astronaut is also being prepared for a year-long stay at the ISS.
