NASA is enlisting private companies to handle International Space Station (ISS) supply runs, as well as astronaut rides, after the Space Shuttle stops flying in 2011. NASA wants multiple companies to take over the job of cargo and crew transport, which would allow the agency to focus on deep-space travel to asteroids and to Mars. The Commercial Crew & Cargo Program Office (C3PO) was established to serve as NASA’s lead investor and customer of the privately owned and operated space transportation systems being created by industry. NASA has just two shuttle missions remaining, in February and April 2011. NASA hopes to get funding for a third and final flight to take place the summer of 2011 to restock the orbiting lab in case the commercial launch companies fall behind, before ending the 30-year shuttle program. In the meantime, NASA is relying on Russia to transport U.S. astronauts to the space station. It is an expensive arrangement: $26 million per person in 2010, rising to $51 million 2011, and to $56 million in 2013. (Source: Commercial Crew & Cargo Program Office (C3PO))
KL (December 2010)
