Boeing testifies on the next chapter in spaceflight

John Elbon of Boeings Space Exploration Division was among commercial aircraft representatives testifying before Congress Wednesday. He presented Boeings plan for developing crew transport vehicles for use with the International Space Station.

Focusing on transport, Elbon said, would allow NASA to free up funds for exploration beyond near-Earth orbit. In addition, transport technology would increase use of the Space Station and could have applications in the commercial sector. Boeing has teamed up with Space Adventures and Bigelow Aerospace, both companies that have offered commercial space flights to private citizens, to develop a transport system that will be both complimentary and safe.

The purpose of NASAs Commercial Crew Development Program is to establish a reliable system of spaceflight to transport humans to and from low Earth orbit, with an initial emphasis on ferrying NASA astronauts to the International Space Station, according to committee chairman Ralph M. Hall (R-Texas). This focus on transport represents the next chapter in American spaceflight after the retirement of the shuttle program.

A commercial system is not expected to launch until 2017, and in the meantime NASA is purchasing seats on Soyuz aircraft for transport of its personnel to the Space Station. According to a press release from the House, these contracts will eventually cost NASA about $1.4 billion, though those present at the hearing said they would eventually be able to provide transportation for much less.

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos company, Blue Origin, did not attend the hearing despite having received almost $15 million in funding from the Commercial Crew Development Program, a fact noted by Hall in his opening statement.