{"id":19559,"date":"2015-11-20T20:14:25","date_gmt":"2015-11-20T12:14:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/its-official-nasa-signs-up-to-send-crew-on-spacexs-dragon-space-taxi\/"},"modified":"2015-11-20T20:14:25","modified_gmt":"2015-11-20T12:14:25","slug":"its-official-nasa-signs-up-to-send-crew-on-spacexs-dragon-space-taxi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/its-official-nasa-signs-up-to-send-crew-on-spacexs-dragon-space-taxi\/","title":{"rendered":"It\u2019s official: NASA signs up to send crew on SpaceX\u2019s Dragon space taxi"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Image:
An artist\u2019s conception shows SpaceX\u2019s Crew Dragon capsule en route to the International Space Station. (Credit: SpaceX)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

NASA has ordered its first mission from SpaceX to carry astronauts to the International Space Station, six months after placing a similar order with Boeing.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s really exciting to see SpaceX and Boeing with hardware in flow for their first crew rotation missions,\u201d Kathy Lueders, manager of NASA\u2019s Commercial Crew Program, said today in a news release. \u201cIt is important to have at least two healthy and robust capabilities from U.S. companies to deliver crew and critical scientific experiments from American soil to the space station throughout its lifespan.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"pluto\"
\nScience journalist Alan Boyle<\/strong> is the author of “The Case for Pluto: How a Little Planet Made A Big Difference.”<\/p>\n

Both companies are developing space taxis for NASA\u2019s use as early as 2017, under the terms of multibillion-dollar contracts that were awarded last year.<\/p>\n

Even though the first order went to Boeing, it has not yet been determined whether Boeing\u2019s CST-100 Starliner capsule or SpaceX\u2019s Crew Dragon capsule will go first. The contracts required NASA to put in its orders early, but the scheduling decisions and required certifications will be made at a later time.<\/p>\n

Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX\u2019s president and chief operating officer, said NASA\u2019s order was a \u201cgreat source of pride for the entire SpaceX team.\u201d<\/p>\n

SpaceX\u2019s Crew Dragon capsule, like Boeing\u2019s Starliner, can accommodate as many as seven people \u2013 but the standard mission to the space station and back will carry up four spacefliers and about 220 pounds of pressurized cargo. The spacecraft will remain at the station for up to 210 days and be available as emergency lifeboats during that time.<\/p>\n