NASA has announced partnerships with seven U.S. companies under its Collaborations for Commercial Space Capabilities-2 (CCSC-2) initiative. This strategic move is set to leverage the innovation and capital of the private sector to meet both future business and government needs in space, ultimately boosting human spaceflight and the U.S. commercial low Earth orbit (LEO) economy.
NASA Meatball Logo
The CCSC-2 initiative is built upon unfunded Space Act Agreements. NASA will contribute technical expertise, assessments, lessons learned, technologies, and valuable data to these partnerships. This structured approach minimizes government resource expenditure while effectively nurturing the development of crucial capabilities for a thriving LEO economy. By sharing its extensive knowledge, NASA aims to foster commercial space advancements and ensure a competitive landscape for space services and innovative technologies.
NASA’s Collaborations for Commercial Space Capabilities-2 Initiative
The Collaborations for Commercial Space Capabilities-2 initiative represents NASA’s ongoing commitment to fostering a robust commercial space sector. Through CCSC-2, NASA strategically partners with U.S. companies, providing them with access to the agency’s vast resources and expertise. This initiative is designed to accelerate the development of commercial space capabilities, ensuring that NASA and other government entities have access to a diverse and competitive marketplace for their future space-related needs. The program is a testament to NASA’s strategy to become one of many customers in a thriving LEO marketplace, with the private sector taking the lead in space innovation.
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Sierra Space Dream Chaser and LIFE Habitat concept
The Seven Companies Partnered with NASA Under CCSC-2
NASA has carefully selected seven companies for the CCSC-2 initiative, each bringing unique strengths and innovative approaches to the commercial space sector. These partnerships span a range of critical areas, from space transportation and in-space infrastructure to manufacturing and space station development. The selected companies are:
- Blue Origin (Kent, Washington): Focused on developing integrated commercial space transportation for safe, affordable, and frequent access to orbit.
- Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation (Dulles, Virginia): Working on the Persistent Platform concept, offering autonomous and robotic capabilities for commercial research and manufacturing in LEO.
- Sierra Space Corporation (Broomfield, Colorado): Developing a comprehensive commercial LEO ecosystem, including space transportation, in-space infrastructure, and expandable space habitats.
- Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) (Hawthorne, California): Collaborating on an integrated LEO architecture leveraging Starship, Dragon, and Starlink for diverse space capabilities.
- Special Aerospace Services (SAS) (Boulder, Colorado): Developing the Autonomous Maneuvering Unit (AMU) for in-space servicing, robotics, and safer assembly of LEO destinations.
- ThinkOrbital Inc. (Lafayette, Colorado): Focused on ThinkPlatforms, self-assembling orbital platforms for research, manufacturing, and astronaut missions, along with CONTESA in-space construction technologies.
- Vast Space LLC (Long Beach, California): Developing technologies for microgravity and artificial gravity space stations, including the Haven-1 commercial destination.
Artist’s concept of Sierra Space’s Dream Chaser spaceplane docking with LIFE habitat highlights the company’s role as one of the Companies Partnered With Nasa.
[Sierra Space Dream Chaser and LIFE Habitat concept
Phil McAlister, director of commercial spaceflight at NASA Headquarters, emphasized the mutual benefits of these collaborations. “It is great to see companies invest their own capital toward innovative commercial space capabilities, and we’ve seen how these types of partnerships benefit both the private sector and NASA,” he stated. He further noted that these agreements enable companies to utilize NASA’s extensive knowledge while positioning the agency as a future customer for the developed capabilities, fostering competition and innovation within the space industry.
SpaceX’s Starship on the launchpad at Starbase in Texas, illustrating the company’s commitment to advancing space transport as one of the companies partnered with NASA.
SpaceX Starship on Launch Pad at Starbase Texas
Project Highlights: Deep Dive into NASA’s Partnerships
Each partnership under CCSC-2 is geared towards specific projects that align with NASA’s goals and the commercial ambitions of the respective companies.
Blue Origin: The collaboration focuses on creating a reliable and cost-effective commercial space transportation system, ensuring the United States maintains its leadership in space access for crew and various mission types.
Northrop Grumman: The Persistent Platform project aims to establish autonomous robotic platforms in LEO, providing a versatile infrastructure for conducting commercial science research and advanced manufacturing activities in space.
Sierra Space: Sierra Space’s partnership with NASA is centered on building a comprehensive LEO ecosystem. This includes the development of the Dream Chaser spaceplane for transportation, LIFE habitats for in-space living, and other crucial infrastructure components for a sustained human presence in LEO.
Special Aerospace Services engineer testing the Autonomous Maneuvering Unit (AMU), showcasing the innovative technologies being developed by companies partnered with NASA.
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ThinkOrbital ThinkPlatform Concept in LEO
SpaceX: SpaceX is working with NASA to further develop its integrated LEO architecture. This encompasses advancements in the Dragon spacecraft, the revolutionary Starship system, and the Starlink satellite network, creating a robust and multifaceted space infrastructure.
Special Aerospace Services (SAS): SAS is concentrating on in-space servicing technologies with its Autonomous Maneuvering Unit (AMU) and Astronaut Assist-AMU. These robotic systems are designed to enhance the safety and efficiency of assembling, servicing, and inspecting assets in orbit.
ThinkOrbital’s ThinkPlatform concept in LEO, visualizing the large-scale orbital platforms envisioned by companies partnered with NASA for various space applications.
[ThinkOrbital ThinkPlatform Concept in LEO
ThinkOrbital: ThinkOrbital’s projects, ThinkPlatforms and CONTESA, are focused on creating large-scale, self-assembling orbital platforms and the construction technologies needed to build them. These platforms will support a wide range of applications, from research and manufacturing to astronaut missions in LEO.
Vast Space: Vast Space is dedicated to developing commercial space stations, including Haven-1, designed for microgravity research and in-space manufacturing. Their collaboration with NASA also extends to technologies required for artificial gravity stations and future larger space station modules.
Vast Space’s Haven-1 commercial space station concept, illustrating the future of commercial space destinations being developed by companies partnered with NASA.
Vast Space Haven-1 Commercial Space Station Concept
Driving Economic Growth and Space Exploration
NASA’s strategic support for a thriving LEO economy through partnerships with companies like these is expected to have significant ripple effects. It aims to stimulate education and job creation in STEM fields and drive broader economic growth by fostering new space markets. Building upon the foundation laid by the first CCSC selections in 2014, which supported the development of commercial rockets, spacecraft, and spacesuits, CCSC-2 is poised to further accelerate the commercialization of space.
NASA’s long-term vision is to transition to a LEO marketplace where it is one of many customers, enabling the agency to focus on deep space exploration while continuing to benefit from LEO-based scientific discovery and technology development. These partnerships are crucial in realizing this vision and ensuring a vibrant future for both commercial space activities and human space exploration.
For more information about NASA initiatives and commercial space, visit:
https://www.nasa.gov/leo-economy
