NASA inks $440M contract with SpaceX to return Americans to space

[Valin]

Orlando Business Journal: Megan Anderson

8/6/12

 

NASA has selected Space Exploration Technologies to develop the successor to the Space Shuttle, awarding the company a $440 million contract to transport American astronauts into space, SpaceX announced Friday.

 

“This is a decisive milestone in human spaceflight and sets an exciting course for the next phase of American space exploration,” said SpaceX CEO and Chief Designer Elon Musk, in a news release. “SpaceX, along with our partners at NASA, will continue to push the boundaries of space technology to develop the safest, most advanced crew vehicle ever flown.”

 

After success of the Hawthrone, Calif.-based company’s Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft combination, SpaceX will begin making final modifications to safely transport astronauts into space.

 

SpaceX said it expects its first manned space flight to take place by 2015.

 

(Snip)