NASA SELECTS CREW AND CARGO TRANSPORTATION TO ORBIT PARTNERS

Aug. 18, 2006

Michael Braukus/Beth Dickey
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1979/2087

Kelly Humphries
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111

RELEASE: 06-295

NASA SELECTS CREW AND CARGO TRANSPORTATION TO ORBIT PARTNERS

NASA selected SpaceX, El Segundo, Calif. and Rocketplane-Kistler,
Oklahoma City, to develop and demonstrate commercial orbital
transportation services that could open new markets and pave the way
for contracts to launch and deliver crew and cargo to the
International Space Station.

NASA and the two companies signed Space Act Agreements that establish
milestones and objective criteria to assess their progress throughout
Phase 1 of the competition. Once a capability is demonstrated, NASA
plans to purchase crew and cargo delivery services competitively in
Phase 2.

"NASA is proud to work with SpaceX and Rocketplane-Kistler as they
endeavor to take American entrepreneurial spirit to new heights,"
said NASA's Exploration Systems Mission Directorate Associate
Administrator Scott Horowitz. "When commercial enterprises turn the
journey to low-Earth orbit into a profit-making business model, NASA
will be free to focus on goals that are more appropriate for
government, such as exploration of the moon and Mars."

In Phase 1, the companies will demonstrate a combination of four
capabilities: external (unpressurized) cargo delivery and disposal;
internal (pressurized) cargo delivery and disposal; internal cargo
delivery and return; and an option for crew transportation.

"These companies were selected from a total of 20 applicants, based on
solid engineering of innovative concepts and sound business plans,"
said Alan Lindenmoyer, manager of the Commercial Crew and Cargo
Program Office at the Johnson Space Center, Houston.

For more information about the program, visit:

http://procurement.jsc.nasa.gov/cots/

The Vision for Space Exploration calls for humans to return to the
moon and journey to Mars. For information about NASA and agency
programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/home


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Jacques :-)

www.spacepatches.nl