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| NASA to award space contract to Boeing and SpaceX | NASA to award space contract to Boeing and SpaceX |
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| NASA plans to award a much-anticipated, multi-billion dollar contract to ferry astronauts to the International Space Station to both Boeing and SpaceX, according a person familiar with the process. | NASA plans to award a much-anticipated, multi-billion dollar contract to ferry astronauts to the International Space Station to both Boeing and SpaceX, according a person familiar with the process. |
| The contracts, which are expected to be announced at 4 p.m. today, would allow the U.S. to get to the space station aboard American spacecraft instead of having to rely on the Russians, who charge more than $70 million a seat for the ride. The person familiar with the deal spoke on the condition of anonymity because the contract has not been awarded. | The contracts, which are expected to be announced at 4 p.m. today, would allow the U.S. to get to the space station aboard American spacecraft instead of having to rely on the Russians, who charge more than $70 million a seat for the ride. The person familiar with the deal spoke on the condition of anonymity because the contract has not been awarded. |
| The awards represents a significant shift for NASA, which has long owned and operated its own rockets. Instead of going to space on government-owned rockets, NASA’s astronauts would essentially rent space on vehicles provided by Boeing and SpaceX. It was unclear how Boeing and SpaceX would divide the work and how big each company's contract would be. | The awards represents a significant shift for NASA, which has long owned and operated its own rockets. Instead of going to space on government-owned rockets, NASA’s astronauts would essentially rent space on vehicles provided by Boeing and SpaceX. It was unclear how Boeing and SpaceX would divide the work and how big each company's contract would be. |
| (Read more: The next space race is for a rental car into orbit) | (Read more: The next space race is for a rental car into orbit) |
| The two companies represent vastly different cultures in the space industry. Boeing is a so-called “old space” stalwart with decades of experience. SpaceX is the upstart California-based company founded by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk that has sought to disrupt the industry. | The two companies represent vastly different cultures in the space industry. Boeing is a so-called “old space” stalwart with decades of experience. SpaceX is the upstart California-based company founded by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk that has sought to disrupt the industry. |
| SpaceX already uses its Dragon capsule to ferry cargo to the space station and is the first private company to do so. Boeing is offering its CST-100 capsule and uses the Atlas V rocket to deliver the capsule to space. | SpaceX already uses its Dragon capsule to ferry cargo to the space station and is the first private company to do so. Boeing is offering its CST-100 capsule and uses the Atlas V rocket to deliver the capsule to space. |
| Musk has criticized Boeing for using the Atlas V, which uses a Russian-made engine. | Musk has criticized Boeing for using the Atlas V, which uses a Russian-made engine. |
| United Launch Alliance is expected to counter that tomorrow by announcing that Blue Origin, the space startup founded by Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos, would develop an American-made engine for the Atlas V, according to another person who is close to the situation. The partnership between the companies was first reported by the Wall Street Journal. | |
| Boeing and SpaceX could not be reached for comment. | Boeing and SpaceX could not be reached for comment. |