NASA CALLS FOR NEW COMMERCIAL CREW PROPOSALS

[Alan Erskine]

Courtesy of Ron Baalke and sci.space.news

Feb. 7, 2012

Michael Braukus/J.D. Harrington
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1979/5241
michael....@nasa.gov / j.d.har...@nasa.gov

Candrea Thomas
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468
candrea....@nasa.gov

RELEASE: 12-045

NASA CALLS FOR NEW COMMERCIAL CREW PROPOSALS

WASHINGTON -- As part of NASA's ongoing efforts to foster development
of a U.S. commercial crew space transportation capability to and from
low Earth orbit and the International Space Station, NASA has issued
a call for industry to submit proposals for the Commercial Crew
Integrated Capability Initiative.

It's expected that proposals will lead to Space Act Agreements that
will help NASA and the U.S. achieve safe, reliable, and cost
effective human access to space. NASA expects to make multiple awards
this summer, with values ranging from $300 - $500 million.

To provide industry a better understanding of this initiative so that
they may provide more comprehensive proposals, NASA plans a
pre-proposal conference on Feb. 14, at the Courtyard Marriott in
Cocoa Beach, Fla. Proposals are due March 23.

"President Obama is working hard to create an American economy built
to last," NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said. "NASA's support of
commercial innovation to reach low Earth orbit is helping to support
these efforts by spurring new technological development and creating
jobs and economic benefits for years to come."

NASA's announcement asks industry to propose a base period of
approximately 21 months, running from award through May 2014. The
goals of the base period include completing the design of a fully
integrated commercial crew transportation system, which consists of
the spacecraft, launch vehicle, ground operations, and mission
control. In addition, NASA is asking for the proposals to contain
optional milestones beyond the base period leading to and culminating
in a crewed orbital demonstration flight.

For more information on the announcement and pre-proposal conference,
visit:

http://commercialcrew.nasa.gov/index.cfm

For more information about NASA's commercial exploration program,
visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew

-end-

[Brian Gaff]

I can see it now, the first commercial flight will deploy a balloon with
coca Cola on it...

Brian

--
Brian Gaff....Note, this account does not accept Bcc: email.
graphics are great, but the blind can't hear them
Email: bri...@blueyonder.co.uk
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________


"Alan Erskine" <alan.e...@bigpond.com> wrote in message
news:lomYq.2924$%E2....@viwinnwfe01.internal.bigpond.com...

[Alan Erskine]

On 9/02/2012 3:57 AM, Brian Gaff wrote:
> I can see it now, the first commercial flight will deploy a balloon with
> coca Cola on it...
>
> Brian
>

Something like that happened during one of the last Mir flights as I recall.

Also, most LVs these days have 'stickers' on them showing their customers.

[Jeff Findley]

In article <mKCYq.2946$%E2....@viwinnwfe01.internal.bigpond.com>,
alan.e...@bigpond.com says...

Coke flew on the shuttle a long time ago.

Jeff
--
" Ares 1 is a prime example of the fact that NASA just can't get it
up anymore... and when they can, it doesn't stay up long. ;) "
- tinker

[Alan Erskine]

On 10/02/2012 7:12 AM, Jeff Findley wrote:
> In article<mKCYq.2946$%E2....@viwinnwfe01.internal.bigpond.com>,
> alan.e...@bigpond.com says...
>>
>> On 9/02/2012 3:57 AM, Brian Gaff wrote:
>>> I can see it now, the first commercial flight will deploy a balloon with
>>> coca Cola on it...
>>>
>>> Brian
>>>
>>
>> Something like that happened during one of the last Mir flights as I recall.
>>
>> Also, most LVs these days have 'stickers' on them showing their customers.
>
> Coke flew on the shuttle a long time ago.
>
> Jeff

Pizza Hut was also on ISS or Mir.

[JF Mezei]

Alan Erskine wrote:

> NASA CALLS FOR NEW COMMERCIAL CREW PROPOSALS

Hopefully, the commercial endeavour will be called "Pan Am". This would
make the 2001 and 2010 documentaries factually correct with Pan Am
providing frequent service between earth and the space station :-)

[David Spain]

Alan Erskine wrote:
> NASA CALLS FOR NEW COMMERCIAL CREW PROPOSALS

I wonder how much more progress could be made if the money slotted for SLS was
diverted into this program instead?

Dave

[Alan Erskine]

Agreed.