Boeing and SpaceX Selected to Build Next Generation Spacecraft
Nasa has selected Boeing and SpaceX to build America's next spacecraft to carry astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) by 2017. The total potential contract value is $4.2-billion for Boeing and $2.6-billion for SpaceX.
The selection of the two companies was designed to encourage competition in the fledgling field of commercial crew space transport. Nasa administrator Charles Bolden said, 'It was not an easy choice, but it is the best choice for Nasa and the nation.'
Boeing's acorn-shaped space capsule, called the Crew Space Transportation-100 (CST-100), is designed to carry up to seven passengers or a mix of crew and cargo. It may be re-used up to 10 times and is equipped with wireless Internet access and tablet technology.
California-based SpaceX has already been awarded $554.5-million to develop its crew vehicle, which it has based on the Dragon cargo carrier. The Dragon Version Two (V2) is designed to land propulsively almost anywhere on Earth and could carry up to seven crew members.
Sierra Nevada lost out on its bid for a contract, having received $363.1-million in Nasa seed money for its Dream Chaser vehicle.