Post by pavel on Jan 14, 2016 22:13:40 GMT -6
NASA adds third company as space station shipper; shuttle back
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.—NASA is adding a third company to its short list of space station suppliers, a Nevada business that will bring back a mini version of the shuttle.
On Thursday, NASA announced Sierra Nevada Corp. will join SpaceX and Orbital ATK in launching cargo to the International Space Station. These flights will begin in 2019 and run through 2024.
This marks a second chance for Sierra Nevada. It competed for NASA's commercial crew contract, but lost out in 2014 to SpaceX and Boeing in a bid to ferry astronauts.
The Sparks, Nevada-based company is developing a scaled-down shuttle called Dream Chaser to haul cargo. The other companies use standard-shaped capsules.
Read more: www.texarkanagazette.com/news/national/story/2016/jan/15/nasa-adds-third-company-space-station-shipper-shuttle-back/413245/