SpaceX is one step closer to concluding a contract with NASA for the transport of astronauts to the ISS

The Dragon capsule from SpaceX got even more chances to transport astronauts from Earth to the ISS and back. The NASA agency approved the implementation of the space program by SpaceX, according to which the brainchild of Ilona Mask is becoming one of the “space taxis” for the transport of astronauts.

If everything goes well and further, then SpaceX will receive a contract from NASA for the transportation of "passengers", this should happen somewhere in 2017. At the same time, the Dragon capsule will be launched into orbit with the Falcon-9 launch vehicle.
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In order to get a contract from NASA, SpaceX must go through a series of certification steps, some of which have already been overcome, and some still need to be overcome. Nevertheless, NASA is pleased with how things are going in SpaceX, and the “certification baseline review” phase has already been passed .

By the way, a similar "space taxi" for the transport of astronauts from Earth to the ISS and back is being developed by Boeing. Both SpaceX and Boeing were awarded a multi-billion dollar contract for the creation of space transport workers. Now both companies are trying to fulfill the requirements of the contract, and in time to cover deadlines.



The main task of NASA is to get several transport workers to transport astronauts at once, and to unload themselves to perform more futuristic tasks, including the flight of astronauts to an asteroid, the transfer of this object to the lunar orbit, the study of the asteroid and the flight to Mars. All this is detailed in NASA’s plans until 2030 .