NASA to rely on commercial partners for deep-space exploration – Fox News

Responding to mounting criticism over inadequate funding and technical planning for sending astronauts to Mars, NASA leaders say they are counting on commercial participation as one means toward a sustainable strategy to explore the solar system over the next two decades.

The reference to long-term reliance on commercial partners for cargo rockets came in response to a report released Thursday by the National Aeronautics and Space Administrations inspector general, who expressed criticism of agency timelines and cost estimates foreventually putting humans on Mars.

NASAs statement is the most direct agency indication so far that projected U.S. government funding may need to leverage private-sector investments and commercial expertise in order for crews to fulfill the agencys target of reaching Mars by the late 2030s and establishing settlements there by the 2040s. NASA said it also expected to persuade some foreign governments to participate in crewed voyages to Mars.

William Gerstenmaier, the head of NASAs human-exploration office, wrote to the inspector general that efforts to use private cargo rockets as part of the overall drive to send crews to Mars are continual and will also be reflected in the exploration road map slated for delivery to Congress at the end of 2017.

This story originally appeared in The Wall Street Journal.

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NASA to rely on commercial partners for deep-space exploration - Fox News