This article is for students grades K-4.
The Commercial Crew Program is a new way NASA is working with businesses. NASA and its business partners made new rockets and spacecraft. They send astronauts to the International Space Station. The astronauts launch from the United States. The Commercial Crew Program is also called the CCP.
Why Is the Commercial Crew Program Important?
The CCP means astronauts can launch to space from the United States. American astronauts first went to space in 1961. They blasted off on rockets from Florida. In 1981, NASA began using the space shuttle to carry astronauts to space. NASA stopped using the space shuttle in 2011. After that, NASA astronauts flew on Russian rockets to the space station. Because of the CCP, NASA astronauts are blasting off from Florida again.
Why Is the Program Called Commercial Crew Program?
NASA is part of the U.S. government. NASA is not a company or a business. People who live in the U.S. pay taxes to the U.S. government. The government decides how much money to give to NASA. The word “commercial” in commercial crew does not mean commercials on TV. This kind of commercial has to do with the buying and selling of things. The CCP is work done with businesses that make money from selling things. NASA and these businesses are working together. You can think of it like buying a ticket to ride on an airplane. NASA is buying a ticket for its astronauts to fly on a spaceship built by a commercial company.
How Is The Commercial Crew Program Different From Other NASA Programs?
NASA has worked with companies to build rockets before. NASA always told these companies exactly what to build. For the CCP, NASA is letting its business partners choose the kind of transportation they want to use. For the CCP, NASA made a list of what it needs. NASA needs a rocket and spaceship that can take astronauts safely to and from the space station many times. The vehicle should not cost too much. The business partners chose how they wanted to meet NASA’s needs. The CCP is the first time NASA has worked with businesses in this way.
Which Companies Are Part of the Commercial Crew Program?
For the CCP, NASA has two companies for business partners. They are Boeing and SpaceX. These companies have built rockets and spacecraft before. The items in the table below are what the companies chose for the Commercial Crew Program.
Boeing and SpaceX are using different vehicles. Both companies have the same goal: to send astronauts safely to the space station and return them safely to Earth.
Which Astronauts Will Fly With the Commercial Crew Program?
Astronauts from NASA, Boeing, and from countries that help on the space station are flying on these missions. Some astronauts will fly on Starliner. Some will fly on the Crew Dragon.
What Are the Plans for the Commercial Crew Program Flights?
The spacecraft have been tested without astronauts. The Crew Dragon launched in May 2020 with two astronauts for a short stay on the space station. On Nov. 16, 2020, the first crew of four astronauts launched to the space station on the Crew Dragon. When NASA says everything is ready, astronauts will fly to and from space station on the Starliner, too.
All missions launch from Florida. People in the U.S. can watch the launches.
More About the Commercial Crew Program
Coloring and Activity Book
Video: How To Make a Straw Rocket
2020 Children’s Artwork Calendar (PDF)
What Is the International Space Station?
What Was the Space Shuttle?