Commercial Space Transportation

Starliner Progress:  Despite delays, Boeing’s Starliner moving steadily toward the launch pad  Boeing is moving closer to a goal of re-establishing a U.S. human space launch capability with the CST-100 Starliner. Starliner and SpaceX’s crewed Dragon are to provide commercial transportation to and from the International Space Station as soon as late 2018.

Crews to be Named:  Commercial crew flight assignments could come this summer   NASA’s Commercial Crew Program is overseeing the development of two spacecraft capable of transporting astronauts to and from the International Space Station, Boeing’s CST-100 and SpaceX’s crewed Dragon. NASA may be close to assigning astronauts to test flights planned for 2018.

Orbital Delivers Cargo to ISS:  Supply ship named for John Glenn arrives at Space Station  Orbital ATK’s seventh NASA contracted resupply capsule reached the International Space Station early Saturday. Astronauts Thomas Pesquet and Peggy Whitson grappled the capsule named for the late Mercury astronaut John Glenn using Canada’s robot arm. The Orbital freighter delivered 7,600 pounds of crew supplies and scientific equipment.

Citizens for Space Exploration – a pro-space, taxpayer, grassroots advocacy group (http://www.bayareahouston.com/content/c_s_e/c_s_e) – has traveled to Washington, D.C. the past 24 years to meet face-to-face with Members/staff of Congress to discuss the value of America’s investment in space exploration. In order to sustain that dialogue on a regular basis, Citizens distributes “Space Exploration Update” to Congressional offices on a weekly basis. The intent is to provide an easy, quick way to stay abreast of key human space exploration program and policy developments.