Boeing, Sierra Nevada and SpaceX outlined their respective plans for transporting space crews to and from the ISS in 2017, NASA said Friday.
“This certification is important to ensuring our crew members have reliable transportation to and from the space station where they are conducting research essential to advancing human exploration farther into the solar system, â said Phil McAlister, director of commercial spaceflight at NASA.
The companies completed a review of how they would demonstrate the safety and performance of the Commercial Crew Program spacecraft in accordance with NASAâs requirements.
The contracts, worth a total of $30 million, were awarded in December 2012.
NASA is set to begin the Commercial Crew Transportation Capability certification process awards in late 2014.