NASA needs a new service after retiring space shuttle last year Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos runs of four companies research space taxi service

By Eddie Wrenn

PUBLISHED: 06:45 EST, 10 May 2012 | UPDATED: 07:53 EST, 10 May 2012

Two of NASA's biggest contractors are teaming up with a European agency to create a 'space taxi' for when astronauts need a quick lift away from this planet.

Currently, NASA must 'catch a ride' from the Russian space agency when astronauts want to visit the International Space Station, following the retirement of the space shuttle last year.

Exactly what fare Russia charges NASA for the 260-mile trip is unknown, but NASA will certainly want to be less reliant on another nation for space jaunts.

So now NASA is funding space taxi research with four separate companies - Boeing, Space Exploration Technologies, Sierra Nevada Corp, and Blue Origin, a startup owned by Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos.

The Space Shuttle Enterprise, taking a quick trip through New York last month as it prepares for retirement at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum in New York

NASA is reviewing bids for at least two design contracts, valued at $300 million to $500 million apiece.

The taxi service will be composed of recycled space shuttle parts along with a new NASA prototype spaceship.

Read more from the original source:

NASA 'space taxi' will reduce reliance on Russia to go to International Space Station