Dragon being recovered in the Pacific. (Credit: SpaceX)
A brief look at developments in commercial space in 2010 with a look ahead, primarily focused on developments in the United States related to the so-called “New Space” sector.
SPACEX
Milestones
- Two Falcon 9 launches, two successes
- One Dragon floating down gently in the Pacific
- Submitted CCDEV 2 proposal
Coming Up in 2011
- Test flights to ISS
- Possible CCDEV contract award
SpaceShipTwo glides downward on its first test flight. (Photo: Mark Greenberg)
VIRGIN GALACTIC
Milestones
- First SpaceShipTwo glide tests
- Spaceport America runway dedication
- Participation in two NASA CCDEV 2 bids
- Will Whitehorn retires, George Whitesides takes over
Coming Up in 2011
- Powered SpaceShipTwo test flight into suborbital space
- Possible CCDEV 2 contract awards
The spaceport terminal in Curaçao should give the one in New Mexico a run for its money.
XCOR
Milestones
- Finalized Lynx design with wind tunnel tests
- Concluded spaceport deal with Curacao in Dutch Antilles
- Raised sufficient funding to move forward with Lynx
- Began Lynx assembly
Coming Up in 2011
- Lynx test flights
ARMADILLO AEROSPACE
Milestones
- Suborbital human space tourism agreement with Space Adventures
- Awarded NASA CRuSR contract
Coming Up in 2011
- CRuSR test flights
- Continued vehicle development
Masten's Xombie vehicle
Masten's Xombie vehicle
MASTEN SPACE SYSTEMS
Milestones
- Awarded NASA CRuSR contract
Coming Up in 2011
- CRuSR test flights
- Continued vehicle development
BLUE ORIGIN
Milestones
- Awarded CCDEV 1 contract
- Continued vehicle development
Coming Up in 2011
- Continued vehicle development and testing
- Possible CCDEV 2 award
The Taurus II first stage core at Wallops Island. (Credit: Orbital Sciences Corporation)
ORBITAL SCIENCES CORPORATION
Milestones
- Delivery of Taurus II first stage from Ukraine
- Successful testing firings of AJ-26 engines for Taurus II
- Continued development of Cygnus freighter
- Submission of CCDEV 2 proposal
Coming Up in 2011
- First Taurus II test flight
- Possible CCDEV 2 award
- Robert Bigelow (right) stands before a model of his private space station. (Photo: Douglas Messier)
BIGELOW AEROSPACE
Milestones
- Partnership with Boeing on CST-100 crew transport
- MOUs with six countries to lease space stations
Coming Up in 2011
- Possible boost from CCDEV 2 awards
- Continued construction of vehicle production facilities
- Continued vehicle development
- A Boeing CST-100 crew module docks at a Bigelow Aerospace space station. (Credit: Boeing)
BOEING
Milestones
- CCDEV 1 award for CST-100 crew transport
- Partnership with Bigelow Aerospace on space station project
- Submission of CCDEV 2 proposal
Coming Up in 2011
- Possible CCDEV 2 award
- Continued vehicle development
SNC Dream Chaser Pressure Shell. (Credit: Sierra Nevada Corporation)
SNC Dream Chaser Pressure Shell. (Credit: Sierra Nevada Corporation)
SIERRA NEVADA CORPORATION
Milestones
- CCDEV 1 award
- CCDEV 2 proposal submission
- Development of Dream Chaser crew transport
- Tests of Dream Chaser engines
Coming Up in 2011
- Possible CCDEV 2 award
- Continued vehicle development
ULA's Atlas V
UNITED LAUNCH ALLIANCE
Milestones
- CCDEV 1 contract
- CCDEV 2 proposal submission
- Atlas V becomes baseline for three CCDEV 2 crew transport proposals by Sierra Nevada, Boeing and Orbital Sciences
- Delta IV under consideration to support future human missions
- Alabama Congressional delegation realizes ULA has a production facility in Decatur
Coming Up in 2011
- Possible CCDEV 2 award
- Continued vehicle development
NASA
Milestones
- Congressional approval to cancel Constellation, pursue CCDEV program fully
- Awarded CCDEV 1 contracts to five companies
- Accepted CCDEV 2 proposals
- Awarded lunar data agreements
- Awarded CRuSR program contracts to Armadillo Aerospace and Masten Space Systems
- Issued commercial crew certification standards
- Hired its first Chief Technology Officer, Bobby Braun
Coming Up in 2011
- Budget authority for commercial programs
- COTS flights by SpaceX and Orbital Sciences Corporation
- CRuSR flights by Armadillo Aerospace and Masten Space Systems
- CCDEV 2 awards (March)
- Space shuttle program ends
Terminal Hangar Facility at Spaceport America.
NEW MEXICO SPACEPORT AUTHORITY
Milestones
- Development of Spaceport America
- Spaceport America runway dedication
- FAA Center of Excellence for Commercial Space Transportation established (NMSU)
Coming Up in 2011
- Spaceport America completion
- SpaceShipTwo flights by Virgin Galactic
NASA
Milestones
- Congressional approval to cancel Constellation, pursue CCDEV program fully
- Awarded CCDEV 1 contracts to five companies
- Accepted CCDEV 2 proposals
- Awarded lunar data agreements
- Awarded CRuSR program contracts to Armadillo Aerospace and Masten Space Systems
- Issued commercial crew certification standards
- Hired its first Chief Technology Officer, Bobby Braun
Coming Up in 2011
- Budget authority for commercial programs
- COTS flights by SpaceX and Orbital Sciences Corporation
- CRuSR flights by Armadillo Aerospace and Masten Space Systems
- CCDEV 2 awards (March)
- Space shuttle program ends
Terminal Hangar Facility at Spaceport America.
NEW MEXICO SPACEPORT AUTHORITY
Milestones
- Development of Spaceport America
- Spaceport America runway dedication
- FAA Center of Excellence for Commercial Space Transportation established (NMSU)
Coming Up in 2011
- Spaceport America completion
- SpaceShipTwo flights by Virgin Galactic
Loading ...
Nicely laid out, great pictures.
…and I LOVE the picture for Blue Origin.
I noticed that also, Bennett! So secretive. Even Bigelow lets us see what they’re doing every now and then.
Gotta love entrepreneurs! Every major player has been in business for about 10 years or less. 2011 is going to be stellar.