NASA allowed SpaceX and Boeing to deliver astronauts to the ISS in 2017

With the subtitle “The Yankees say: the Russians can shove their Union, and we will do it cheaper” appeared the news about the plans of NASA. The agency expects that from 2017 the SpaceX spacecraft Dragon and CST-100 from Boeing will be able to deliver astronauts to the ISS.

Boeing and SpaceX ships passed the first stage of the tests required for admission to the transportation of astronauts. NASA administrator Charles Bolden at a press conference on this event, said: “I don’t want to sign a single check to Roskosmos after 2017. If we succeed, I will be happy. " NASA plans to fully give orbital issues to commercial companies and concentrate its efforts on deep space exploration.

At the same time, companies should not compete with each other - NASA just wants to insure that at least two different organizations can carry out space transportation. The cost of putting an astronaut into orbit, according to their promises, will be about $ 58 million, while today Roskosmos estimates its transport services at $ 70 million.
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Administrator Bolden also noted that the ISS is scheduled for completion by 2024, and by that time something newer may appear - for example, Bigelow Aerospace will advance in the creation of inflatable space modules for cosmonauts and space tourists. The company has already successfully launched two test modules into orbit.

Capsule CST-100 is capable of carrying four passengers and cargo, and Dragon - seven passengers, or five with additional cargo. Both capsules must be reusable. However, there is still a lot to be done to implement the rainbow plans. For example, only Falcon 9 will need to be launched at least 50 more times to complete the tests.

Let me remind you that since 2011, NASA has not had a single manned spacecraft, and Roskosmos is launching all astronauts into orbit. In 2014, the American company signed a contract for the purchase of engines of NPO Energomash in the amount of $ 1 billion. And just today there was news about the possible construction of an alternative to the ISS with the participation of the BRICS countries.