Virgin Galactic signs NASA agreement to support commercial orbital spaceflight
Posted: Fri, Jun 26, 2020, 5:05 PM ET (2105 GMT)
Virgin Galactic has signed a Space Act Agreement with NASA to support commercial astronaut missions to the ISS. The agreement, announced early Monday, covers development of what the company calls a "private orbital astronaut readiness program" that could include identifying potential customers, handling training, and arranging for transportation to the station. Those flights would not be carried out on Virgin Galactic vehicles, which are capable of suborbital flight only, but the company could work with developers of commercial crew vehicles. However, private astronauts may train at Virgin Galactic facilities, including on SpaceShipTwo suborbital flights. The company didn't disclose the cost it anticipated for such flights or a schedule for them.
Virgin Galactic has signed a Space Act Agreement with NASA to support commercial astronaut missions to the ISS. The agreement, announced early Monday, covers development of what the company calls a "private orbital astronaut readiness program" that could include identifying potential customers, handling training, and arranging for transportation to the station. Those flights would not be carried out on Virgin Galactic vehicles, which are capable of suborbital flight only, but the company could work with developers of commercial crew vehicles. However, private astronauts may train at Virgin Galactic facilities, including on SpaceShipTwo suborbital flights. The company didn't disclose the cost it anticipated for such flights or a schedule for them.
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