Our Progress and Plans on the
Journey to Mars
cardiovascular health, conducting nutritional studies, and validating exercise
protocols. With these studies, NASA explores the physiology of the human
body, preparing for long-duration spaceflight and supporting development of
terrestrial drugs and therapeutic practices. NASA and our partners’ activities
on the ISS are achieving key milestones and enabling a planned transition to
early pioneering missions in cislunar space.
Leveraging U.S. Industry: Commercial Crew and Cargo
NASA relies
on commercial
services it helped
develop, leading
to economically
efficient exploration
The guiding principles for pioneering space include leveraging non-NASA
capabilities and partnering with industry whenever possible. NASA’s
acquisition strategy for commercial crew and cargo services embodies these
principles. The ISS plays a key role as a destination and anchor customer
for emerging commercial markets in LEO. Commercial partners, who are
maturing their business models and technical approaches by providing critical
services for the ISS, will be essential to enabling deep-space NASA missions.
The NASA-sponsored Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS)
program resulted in the development of new launch vehicles and cargo
spacecraft. Both Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) and Orbital ATK
have successfully delivered cargo to the ISS using vehicles developed with
NASA support. Under the Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) and followon contracts, commercial partners are expected to provide about six flights
per year to support ISS operations. These flights are win-win arrangements
for NASA and industry, as they minimize the need for costly, NASA-unique
infrastructure and increase commercial access to space.
In September 2014, NASA announced the next phase of the commercial
services program, Commercial Crew Transportation Capability (CCtCap),
under which NASA awarded contracts for crew transportation services to
Boeing and SpaceX. Once the companies complete development and are
certified by NASA, the agency will purchase two flights per year to deliver
and return expedition crew. CCtCap will provide NASA and our international
partners with additional vehicles to deliver crews to the ISS and expand
research opportunities by enabling the crew aboard ISS to increase from six
to seven. NASA also continues relationships with other U.S. companies that
are developing alternative transportation systems.
Beyond commercial crew and cargo transportation services, NASA is
also developing strategies to stimulate sustained economic activity in
LEO. This includes leveraging the ISS; supporting a policy and regulatory
environment that promotes commercialization of LEO; facilitating a robust,
self-sustaining, and cost-effective supply of U.S. commercial services that
accommodates public and private demands; and stimulating broad sectors of
the economy disco