NASA Selects 7 Companies for 2nd Iteration of Commercial Space Tech Initiative

NASA has chosen seven companies to carry out technology development projects to support the agency’s human space exploration and commercialization goals in low Earth orbit.

Each participating vendor in the Collaborations for Commercial Space Capabilities-2 program will develop systems through an unfunded Space Act Agreement, the agency said Friday.

The first CCSC iteration was launched in December 2014 with ATK, Final Frontier Design, SpaceX and United Launch Alliance as the industry participants.

Phil McAlister, director of commercial spaceflight at NASA, said the agency seeks to increase competition among the space technology providers and could become a customer for platforms covered by the new agreements.

Under the program, Blue Origin plans to develop an integrated commercial space transportation system to help crews and missions reach orbit.

Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC) looks to support potential scientific research and manufacturing capabilities in LEO with company-developed autonomous and robotic platforms.

Sierra Nevada Corp.‘s space-focused business aims to help NASA establish a commercial LEO ecosystem by developing transportation and infrastructure.

The agency said SpaceX will develop an architecture using the company’s technology portfolio, which includes Starship and Dragon, while Special Aerospace Services will work on in-space servicing and mobility platforms.

ThinkOrbital and Vast Space will focus on space-based construction and microgravity applications, respectively.

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