NASA Details Transition of International Space Station to Commercial Operations
upstart writes:
NASA details transition of International Space Station to commercial operations:
NASA has provided an update to Congress on the transition of the ISS into a commercial operation, detailing how it's working to develop supply and demand for the "low-Earth orbit commercial economy."
The space agency has already entered into one contract to attach commercial modules to a space station docking port and awarded agreements for the design of three free-flying commercial space stations.
"US industry is developing these commercial destinations to begin operations in the late 2020s for both government and private-sector customers, concurrent with space station operations," NASA said in the International Space Station Transition Report published Tuesday.
The report said NASA is focused on inspiring humankind through STEM student participation, microgravity research and development, orbital activities, partnering with minority institutions, and exploring "ways to engage a diverse group of students, educators and the general public through inspirational opportunities."
NASA is also hosting hundreds of different experiments at the ISS National Laboratory, including from commercial users, government agencies and academia.
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