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Delivering astronauts to the ISS will be engaged in "Boeing" and SpaceX
The capsule Boeing CST-100 i>
NASA is just объявило results of the tender for the program Commercial Crew delivery of astronauts on the ISS. This is the last stage of a multi-year program, which started after the failure of the space shuttle in 2001. The program is designed to 2017 .
Participated in the tender three companies: Boeing, SpaceX and Sierra Nevada Corporation. Received a contract Boeing ($ 4, $ 2 billion) and SpaceX ($ 2, 6 billion).
Boeing is developing a manned capsule CST-100 , which is expected to be delivered up to 7 astronauts ISS and back to Earth. Capsule with a touchscreen and access to the Internet can be used up to 10 times.
Test phase provides a minimum of one test flight with a NASA astronaut on board each of the capsules. He should test the systems and maneuverability. Then Boeing and SpaceX will conduct 2-6 controlled missions to the ISS.
Unlike Boeing, SpaceX company has already conducted several successful dockings unmanaged version capsules Dragon with the ISS, but managers of NASA, probably could not refuse friend, a trusted partner - and gave him a large part of the budget. Ходят rumors , that the decision was made without the influence of Jeff Bezos, whose company Blue Origin, together with Boeing and Lockheed Martin will participate in a joint project of United Launch Alliance to develop a rocket engine instead of the Russian RD-180. At Blue Origin already has a prototype of such an engine BE-3 for a planned space capsule New Shephard. Liquid hydrogen engine was successfully tested for the first time в December 2013. ( video ).
The tests missiles Blue Origin i>
CST-100 capsule is designed for launching a rocket Atlas 5.
Partial "defeat" in the tender SpaceX does not take away from the company's orders for commercial trucking. At cost SpaceX launch technology outperforms Boeing, so that customers are interested to cooperate with it exactly.
A few words about the third party tender - Sierra Nevada Corporation, which initially had little chance of winning. They create piloted ship Dream Chaser , capable of landing on the runway.
The company is not going to stop development after losing a tender and intends to use the shuttle, probably for the organization of tourist trips.
Source: habrahabr.ru/post/237063/
