Space Exploration Technologies and Orbital ATK (NYSE: OA) have received contract modifications with undisclosed amounts from NASA to carry supplies to the International Space Station, Spaceflight Now reported Saturday.
Stephen Clark writes SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft and Orbital ATK’s Cygnus supply ship will each transport 44, 000 pounds of provisions, food, clothes, experiments and spare parts to ISS in 2017.
These will launch missions extend the commercial resupply services contracts NASA originally awarded to both companies in 2008, according to the report.
Stephanie Schierholz, a NASA spokesperson, told the publication NASA has ordered three additional flights with SpaceX and one additional flight with Orbital in the extension period.
“This is based on the projected needs of the ISS program for cargo upmass, return and disposal and the unique capabilities of each contractor, †Schierholz said.
The companies are also set to kick off commercial cargo launch programs in 2018 through 2020, the report says.
NASA also has opened the competition for a second round of CRS contracts and awards are scheduled for announcement in June, Clark reports.
