NASA Administrator Charles Bolden spoke during a press conference, Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2010, at the National Press Club in Washington, where it was announced that NASA has awarded $50 million through funded agreements to further the commercial sector’s capability to support transport of crew to and from low Earth orbit.
Through an open competition for funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, NASA awarded Space Act Agreements to Blue Origin of Kent, Wash.; The Boeing Company of Houston; Paragon Space Development Corporation of Tucson, Ariz.; Sierra Nevada Corporation of Louisville, Colo.; and United Launch Alliance of Centennial, Colo. The agreements are for the development of crew concepts and technology demonstrations and investigations for future commercial support of human spaceflight.
From left: Ken Bowersox, VP Astronaut Safety, SpaceX; David Thompson, CEO, Orbital Science Corporation; Mark Sirangelo, VP and Chair, SNC Space Systems Board, Sierra Nevada Corp.; NASA Administrator Charles Bolden; Assistant to the President for Science and Technology and Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Dr. John P. Holdren; Jane Poynter, President and Chair, Paragon Space Development Corp.; Brewster Shaw, VP and General Manager, NASA Systems, Boeing; Robert Millman of Blue Origin; Mike Gass, President and Chief Executive, United Launch Alliance.Commercial Space Company SummariesAdministrator Bolden’s RemarksImage Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls