What Do Commercial Contractors Do?

Recently, NASA plans to start providing 300 million to 500 million U.S. dollars to two aerospace research and development institutions to develop a spacecraft that can fly to and from the International Space Station for a period of 21 months.

Commercial spaceship

Recently, NASA plans to start providing 300 million to 500 million US dollars to two aerospace research and development institutions to

At the same time, the contractor accepting the contract will be required to develop a development plan. In the third phase, NASA will select at least two contractors, and the plan depends on funding issues. In 2012, the project funding allocation was $ 406 million, less than half of the required funding.

NASA commercial spaceship ^[1]

A manned commercial spacecraft "Spacecraft 2" developed by the British Virgin Galactic Corporation crashed during a test flight in the Mojave Desert in the southwestern United States on October 31, 2014, and a pilot died.

Virgin Galactic said on Twitter's website that the "spacecraft 2" experienced a "serious anomaly" during the test flight, causing the spacecraft to be damaged. The White Knight 2 aircraft carrying the Space Ship 2 has landed safely. The cause of the accident is still under investigation.

The video footage showed that the wreckage of Space Ship 2 crashed into the Mojave Desert. US media reported that the "White Knight 2" aircraft carrying the "Space Ship 2" launched on the morning of the 31st local time, and that the "Space Ship 2" exploded shortly after its release from the "White Knight 2". A California highway patrol officer said one of the pilots died and the other was seriously injured.

Virgin Galactic has launched its space travel business since 2005. In order to achieve commercial space travel, Virgin Galactic has developed the "Spaceship 2" suborbital vehicle, which is expected to make its first flight in 2015. This commercial spacecraft can carry two crew members and six tourists at a time. It is reported that more than 700 people have "reserved" a seat for $ 250,000 per person. ^[2]