NASA asks companies to evaluate commercial viability of International Space Station

8/9/2018

Photo: Steve Gonzales, Houston Chronicle

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Image 1 of 4 | Commercial astronauts

Astronauts Victor Glover (left-right), Mike Hopkins, Bob Behnken, Doug Hurley, Nicole Mann, Chris Ferguson, Eric Boe, Josh Cassada, Suni Williams receive applause Friday, Aug. 3, 2018, in Houston. NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine announced the crew assignments for the crew flight tests and the first post-certification mission for both Boeing and SpaceX. less

Photo: Steve Gonzales, Houston Chronicle

Image 2 of 4 | Commercial astronauts

Astronauts Robert Behnken (left-right), Victor Glover, Douglas Hurley, Michael Hopkins make up the Crew Dragon Test Flight team Friday, Aug. 3, 2018, in Houston.

Photo: Steve Gonzales, Houston Chronicle

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Jim Bridenstine, an Oklahoma congressman, was sworn in on April 23, 2018 as NASA’s new administrator.

Photo: Associated Press

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NASA has tasked 13 companies with determining the viability of a commercial economy in low Earth orbit, where the International Space Station has flown since 1998.

The companies -- which include four from Texas -- were tapped Wednesday by the agency, news that follows the announcement last week of the first nine astronauts to fly in the coming years on commercial spacecraft being built by SpaceX and Boeing.

Both announcements highlight heightened governmental efforts to increase commercial company involvement in low Earth orbit. Along with the move to use commercial companies to launch American astronauts to the space station (the U.S. currently relies on Russia to get astronauts there), there also is an effort to transition the space station to commercial operation by 2025. As stipulated in President Donald Trump's fiscal year 2019 budget for NASA, federal funding for the space station would end in 2024.

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"When the International Space Station was established, we could not have anticipated all of the benefits it would provide," said Sam Scimemi, director of the space station division at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

"We're excited to receive this input from the commercial market and aerospace experts to help shape a future thriving space economy in which companies contract with each other to conduct research and activities in low-Earth orbit," Scimemi said.

NASA expects to allocate $11 million in total toward the 13 studies. NASA's statement Wednesday says that "the unique concepts and analysis resulting from these studies will help NASA, the administration and Congress develop a strategic approach to expanding opportunities for American industry."

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine admitted last week that ending federal funding for the space station may not be feasible given the financial burden that would place on commercial companies. Just in fiscal year 2017, NASA spent $1.45 billion on the space station — and that doesn't include the costs to transport astronauts and supplies there.

SPACE STATION: NASA chief says 2024 funding cutoff may not be possible

But commercial companies are already expressing an interest in the idea, he added, and many have submitted plans on how to take over operations, which NASA personnel are reviewing. Wednesday's announcement is just the next step in that process.

The selected companies are: