Commercial Space Transportation Update

Feb 1-12, 2016

• Commercial Cargo Contract: NASA offers more details on cargo contract decision
  NASA offered new details on the selection criteria it used in January to award contracts for continued commercial resupply of the International Space Station between late 2019 and 2014. The contracts were awarded to incumbents Orbital ATK and SpaceX and newcomer Sierra Nevada.
• Dream Chaser: Europe to invest in Sierra Nevada’s Dream Chaser cargo vehicle
  Sierra Nevada, the Colorado based developer of the Dream Chaser reusable lifting body spacecraft, can anticipate a $36 million investment from the European Space Agency in the coming weeks. Sierra Nevada is one of three companies selected by NASA earlier this month to carry out resupply missions to the International Space Station between 2019 and 2024. The company also plans to develop a crewed version of the Dream Chaser.

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.