NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine told a Senate committee on Wednesday that the government will consider flying its upcoming lunar crew test flight on commercial rockets.
NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine told a Senate committee on Wednesday that the government will consider flying its upcoming lunar crew test flight on commercial rockets, opening the door for SpaceX to win a pair of potentially lucrative launch contracts.
Instead of the space agency's own SLS rocket, Bridenstine said NASA"could use two heavy lift rockets" to send the two spacecraft of the mission into orbit. Bridenstine referenced the"amazing capability that exists right now" in the U.S., and that means only two commercial possibilities: SpaceX and United Launch Alliance .ULA, the joint venture of Boeing and Lockheed Martin, launched the first test flight of the Orion program on its Delta IV Heavy rocket in December 2014.
Additionally, Bridenstine wants the moon mission to launch"between now and June of 2020," he said, making SpaceX's rapid launch cadence another potentially enticing factor to NASA. For the last two years, SpaceX has made up the majority of U.S. rocket launches. Originally, NASA wanted to launch this lunar mission, called EM-1, on the Space Launch System . The SLS is a new rocket being primarily built by Boeing that NASA wants to use to send astronauts back to the moon. It would launch Orion – the lunar capsule built by Lockheed Martin that would carry the crew. As of NASA's budget request on Monday, the administration planned to use the SLS rocket for the EM-1 mission.
Brasil Últimas Notícias, Brasil Manchetes
Similar News:Você também pode ler notícias semelhantes a esta que coletamos de outras fontes de notícias.
SpaceX completes historic Crew Dragon test flight for NASA with splashdown in the Atlantic OceanSpaceX splashed its Crew Dragon capsule into the Atlantic Ocean safely on Friday morning, completing the company's test flight to the International Space Station.
Consulte Mais informação »
SpaceX completes historic Crew Dragon test flight for NASA with splashdown in the AtlanticOne giant step for mankind: With the return of SpaceX's Crew Dragon to Earth, the U.S. is one step closer to being able to send astronauts to space again. 🚀 Watch the moment the spacecraft hit Earth.
Consulte Mais informação »
NASA budget reveals even more reliance on private companies like SpaceX and Blue OriginThe White House wants $21 billion for NASA, and the budget request reveals opportunities for private space companies to earn lucrative future awards, several industry analysts told CNBC.
Consulte Mais informação »
Untouched moon samples from the Apollo missions will be studied for the first timeAfter sitting untouched in storage for nearly 50 years, lunar samples collected during the Apollo 15, 16 and 17 missions will be studied for the first time, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine announced Monday.
Consulte Mais informação »
SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule splashes down in Atlantic OceanSpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule returned to Earth and splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean Friday morning after a five-day stay at the International Space Station.
Consulte Mais informação »
Elon Musk's SpaceX capsule splashes down off Florida coastBy Joey Roulette CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla (Reuters) - An unmanned capsule from Elon Musk's SpaceX splashed down into the Atlantic Ocean on Friday morning after a short-term stay on the International Space Station, capping the first orbital test mission in NASA's long-delayed quest to resume human
Consulte Mais informação »
SpaceX crew capsule ends test flight with ocean splashdownLive footage from NASA showed the capsule's four main parachutes opened without a hitch, and it splashed down at 8:45 am (1345 GMT).
Consulte Mais informação »
SpaceX Crew Dragon, built to carry humans, heads home from ISSSpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule unlatched from the International Space Station early Friday morning to begin its slow descent back to Earth, capping off its historic first test flight.
Consulte Mais informação »