In a significant move towards advancing commercial space capabilities, NASA has announced its collaboration with seven U.S. companies for future human spaceflight endeavors and the growth of the commercial low Earth orbit (LEO) economy. The partnerships aim to leverage NASA’s technical expertise, knowledge, and resources while encouraging the development of innovative space technologies. The collaborations, facilitated through unfunded Space Act Agreements, are expected to have a transformative impact on the commercial space industry.
The selected companies for the Collaborations for Commercial Space Capabilities-2 (CCSC-2) initiative are Blue Origin, Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, Sierra Space Corporation, SpaceX, Special Aerospace Services, ThinkOrbital Inc., and Vast Space LLC.
“The companies can leverage NASA’s vast knowledge and experience, and the agency can be a customer for the capabilities included in the agreements in the future. Ultimately, these agreements will foster more competition for services and more providers for innovative space capabilities,” said Phil McAlister, director of commercial spaceflight at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Each company’s proposal was evaluated based on its alignment with NASA’s goals, resource availability, business and technical feasibility, and potential contributions to the development of a robust LEO economy. Under the Space Act Agreements, the participating parties bear the costs of their involvement, ensuring a collaborative effort with minimal government resources.
Here’s more about the projects undertaken by each company in partnership with NASA:
Blue Origin: Blue Origin aims to develop integrated commercial space transportation capabilities, focusing on safe, affordable, and frequent access to orbit for crew and other missions.
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation: The collaboration between Northrop Grumman and NASA centers around the Persistent Platform, a project designed to provide autonomous and robotic capabilities for commercial science research and manufacturing in LEO.
Sierra Space Corporation: Sierra Space will work with NASA to develop a commercial LEO ecosystem, encompassing next-generation space transportation, in-space infrastructure, and expandable and customizable space facilities to support human presence in LEO.
SpaceX: SpaceX’s collaboration with NASA focuses on an integrated LEO architecture that includes the Starship rocket, Dragon spacecraft, and Starlink communication network. The goal is to offer a comprehensive portfolio of technology, enabling crew and cargo transportation, in-space operations, and ground support.
Special Aerospace Services: Special Aerospace Services aims to collaborate with NASA on in-space servicing technology, propulsion, and robotics. Their project includes the development of the Autonomous Maneuvering Unit (AMU) and the Astronaut Assist-AMU for commercial in-space servicing and mobility applications.
ThinkOrbital Inc.: ThinkOrbital will partner with NASA to develop ThinkPlatforms, self-assembling, large-scale orbital platforms designed for various applications in LEO, such as research, manufacturing, and astronaut missions. The collaboration will also involve the development of Construction Technologies for Space Applications (CONTESA), which facilitates large-scale in-space fabrication.
Vast Space LLC: Vast Space will collaborate with NASA on the development of microgravity and artificial gravity stations, including the Haven-1 commercial destination. These platforms will support crew activities, research, and in-space manufacturing. The agreement also includes the Vast-1 mission, the first crewed mission to the platform.
The previous Collaborations for Commercial Space Capabilities selections in 2014 yielded fruitful collaborations, contributing to the development of commercial rockets, spacecraft, and spacesuits. With the latest collaborations, NASA is taking another stride towards a future where space exploration and commercial activities work hand in hand, opening new frontiers and driving technological advancements that benefit humanity.
