NASA Seeks Commercial Crew Proposals

NASA Seeks More Proposals On Commercial Crew Development
“Multiple awards are expected to be announced by March 2011 for terms of up to 14 months. Approximately $200 million total is expected to be available for awards under this announcement, but funding is dependent on the 2011 fiscal year appropriations from Congress. The deadline for submitting proposals is Dec. 13.”
NASA Changes Widespread, Garver Says, Aviation Week
“Garver acknowledged the rancor and concern triggered by the Obama administration’s decision to switch to a more commercial approach for flying crews to and from the station. “In order to be expected to loosen our grip on transporting our precious astronauts, our national treasures, to and from space, we need to assure ourselves — and the nation — that there are capable companies ready to carry that torch forward,” she says. Part of the resistance to Obama’s plan to procure launch services for astronauts rather than have NASA operate the transportation system itself stems from uncertainty about what the civil government space program would do next, Garver says. “We need to do a better job of planning and articulating what we will do.”