NASA Introduces First 'Commercial Crew' To Fly Astronauts to ISS And Back, Ending Reliance On Russian Spacecraft

NASA has announced its first Commercial Crew which is set to bring American space launches back to US soil, ending its dependence on Russia.

The American space agency is teaming up with private companies Boeing and SpaceX to ensure that American astronauts can be ferried back and fourth to the International Space Station (ISS) and beyond.

Currently, the only way for NASA astronauts to get to the ISS is by hitching a ride on the Russian Soyuz spacecraft.

Despite two recent commercial rocket explosions, private space companies are essential to NASA’s future space explorations.

Veteran astronauts and test pilots Robert Behnken, Eric Boe, Douglas Hurley and Sunita Williams make up the first Commercial Crew team are set to work with SpaceX and Boeing to help them develop their crew transportation systems.

They will be the first to fly fellow astronauts to and from the ISS.

“I am pleased to announce four American space pioneers have been selected to be the first astronauts to train to fly to space on commercial crew vehicles, all part of our ambitious plan to return space launches to U.S. soil, create good-paying American jobs and advance our goal of sending humans farther into the solar system than ever before,” said NASA Administrator Charles Bolden.

“These distinguished, veteran astronauts are blazing a new trail - a trail that will one day land them in the history books and Americans on the surface of Mars.”

Each of the companies’ test missions require a NASA-trained astronaut on board to ensure that the spacecraft perform as expected.

Once testing is complete, each mission will transport four NASA crew members plus over 100kg of cargo to the space station.

“This is a new and exciting era in the history of U.S. human spaceflight,“ said Brian Kelly, director of Flight Operations at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

(Image credit: NASA)