NASA Calls for New Commercial Crew Proposals - C3
Earlier this month NASA reaffirmed both the support and necessity for commercial development of space programs. This was communicated through formal Release 12-045, calling for new commercial crew proposals. The initiative is being pursued by NASA's Commercial Crew and Cargo Program, also referred to as C3. Through commercial satelitte programs, as well as a private solution for ISS ferrying missions, the idea of NASA coordinating with commercial solutions has been around for a while. SpaceX already won a $1.6 billion dollar contract in December of 2008 for resupply and ferrying missions with the ISS. The first SpaceX mission is scheduled for later in 2012 with their Dragon platform. Although not a new idea, the formal release further substantiates their support for the development of commercial solutions in space.
A copy of the formal release is attached below.
Video courtesy of NASA C3.
Michael Braukus/J.D. Harrington
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1979/5241 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Candrea Thomas Kennedy Space Center, Fla. 321-867-2468 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. RELEASE: 12-045 NASA CALLS FOR NEW COMMERCIAL CREW PROPOSALS WASHINGTON -- As part of NASA's ongoing efforts to foster development of a U.S. commercial crew space transportation capability to and from low Earth orbit and the International Space Station, NASA has issued a call for industry to submit proposals for the Commercial Crew Integrated Capability Initiative. It's expected that proposals will lead to Space Act Agreements that will help NASA and the U.S. achieve safe, reliable, and cost effective human access to space. NASA expects to make multiple awards this summer, with values ranging from $300 - $500 million. To provide industry a better understanding of this initiative so that they may provide more comprehensive proposals, NASA plans a pre-proposal conference on Feb. 14, at the Courtyard Marriott in Cocoa Beach, Fla. Proposals are due March 23.
