January 28, 2013

Image Caption: The Dragon capsule illustrated in this artist's concept, is under development by Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) of Hawthorne, Calif. Credit: Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX)

Lee Rannals for redOrbit.com Your Universe Online

NASA announced that it is taking the next steps in trying to get back to launching astronauts from U.S. soil. The space agency said that three companies are now conducting activities that will confirm U.S.-based commercial spacecraft are safe to carry crews to the International Space Station (ISS).

Through May 30, 2014, three companies will be working under contract with NASAs Commercial Crew Program (CCP) to develop products to implement the agencys flight safety and performance standards and requirements.

The Certification Products Contracts (CPC) will establish standards across all aspects of commercial crew systems, including design of the spacecraft, launch vehicles, and ground and mission operations.

NASA said CCP will provide the U.S. with its own transportation capabilities to the Space Station. Since the retirement of the space shuttle program in 2011, NASA has had to rely on Russias Soyuz spacecraft for transportation to the orbiting outpost.

Throughout the phases of this program, weve really been creating a capability for the nation to use for low-Earth orbit transportation, Ed Mango, CCP manager at Kennedy Space Center, said in a statement. As we create that capability, then NASA will become a customer so that we can move our flight crew to the International Space Station and continue our critical science.

Contractors working on the spacecraft include Boeing, United Launch Alliance, Sierra Nevada, and SpaceX. The vehicles the contractors are working on include the CST-100 spacecraft, Dream Chaser, and a modified version of SpaceXs Dragon capsule.

NASA hopes the new crew transportation vehicles will provide safe, reliable and cost-effective access to and from low-Earth orbit.

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NASA Moving Forward As It Looks To Return Manned Space Missions Launching From US Soil