ISS

Boeing is being tipped to receive a multibillion-dollar contract from Nasa to build a spacecraft to fly astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) and back.

Officials familiar with the matter were quoted by The Wall Street Journal as saying that on a preliminary basis, Nasa concluded that Boeing’s proposed capsule was a safer option and it could be ready to fly astronauts to the ISS within three years.

If selected, Boeing’s spacecraft will replace the country’s space-shuttle fleet that retired from service in 2011.

Other bidders for the contract include SpaceX and Sierra Nevada, with one expected to be selected as a second source as part of a smaller contract, the officials said.

Nasa plans to award fixed-price contracts valid until 2017, including at least one demonstration flight linking up with the ISS.

"If selected, Boeing’s spacecraft will replace the country’s space-shuttle fleet that retired from service in 2011."

Nasa spokesman said: "We anticipate an announcement in September."

Boeing appears to be a preferred party as it completed the earlier programme development goals on time and on budget but SpaceX failed to comply with certain critical design requirements, sources familiar with the matter told the news agency.

Boeing’s potential contract value is not yet known; however, Nasa is allocating around $700m for a year, to support the development of an alternative to Russian spacecraft.

The agency is believed to spend billions of dollars in the coming years for ongoing transportation services.

Boeing plans to use Atlas V rockets to send crews to the ISS, and said it will not proceed with its CST-100 manned capsule project without further support from the government.

Image: Artist’s rendering of the International Space Station. Photo: courtesy of Nasa.

Defence Technology