Opportunities and Challenges for Supporting Commercial Space at NASA
- Paper number
IAC-07-B3.5.02
- Author
Dr. Daniel Rasky, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)/Ames Research Center, United States
- Year
2007
- Abstract
NASA has committed to help fostering a vibrant US commercial space industry for public benefit, and to help achieve affordably and sustainable space exploration. One of NASA’s largest activities in this regard is the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services Program (COTS) where NASA plans an investment of $500M over five years, starting in 2007. The goal of the COTS program is to provide commercial transportation demonstrations of cargo, and potentially crew, to and from the International Space Station (ISS). The intent is that following successful flight demonstrations, NASA will be able to compete contracts for cargo and potentially crew transport to and from ISS. Thereby achieving this service at a much lower cost than government transportation options, and allowing significant cost savings that can then be applied to the exploration program. COTS is managed out of NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC). NASA Ames Research Center (ARC) is providing direct support to JSC for the program execution, and also technical support to its commercial partners. Currently there are two funded partner organizations selected from a national COTS competition with over 20 respondents: SpaceX and Rocket-Plane/Kistler. Both of these companies are planning major flight demonstrations for 2008, and both companies plan ISS cargo transport capabilities by 2009-2010, with crew transport to follow. This paper details a brief history of the establishment of the COTS program, building on lessons-learned from earlier NASA commercial space programs and activities such as the X-33, X-34 and X-37, and the Alternate Access to Space Program. Obstacles and opportunities identified from these previous programs provided key insight into the structure and approach adopted for COTS. Current challenges and opportunities in implementing the COTS program, from both a programmatic and technical standpoint will be identified and discussed.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-07-B3.5.02.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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