] [TechWeb June 10, according to US financial website CNBC reported that NASA (NASA) International Space Station is scheduled to open to visitors from 2020.
NASA said it will open the International Space Station, will allow private companies "private astronaut" to the international space station stay up to 30 days, for the first time as early as 2020 to complete the task.
The move comes the introduction of NASA's efforts to promote its objectives on the occasion, namely to make 2024 the first woman and the second man on the moon, the United States will also play a crucial role in achieving sustainable development .
The agency said that as Boeing and SpaceX are developing can be carried to the International Space Station's human space capsule, so the two companies will handle any private tourist and services relevant to them.
NASA will have twice as many short-term private astronaut missions per year, each tasks for up to 30 days. Every trip into space cost may exceed $ 50 million, including a $ 35,000 night's accommodation.
For a long time, the commercialization of the International Space Station has been considered a way to reduce the NASA space station's annual operating costs. In addition, ISS has also been touted as a stepping stone to build the business ecosystem in Earth orbit, so that companies can produce, test, publicity, and even tourists.
NASA said in a press release that it will also allow companies to bid for new activities on the International Space Station. The agency published a new directive, namely "to allow commercial manufacturing and production, and to allow NASA astronaut and a new private business in the orbiting laboratory."
Soon, Jim 布里登斯廷 (Jim Bridenstine) and private companies held talks on the issue after the station management was appointed director of NASA.
Although NASA has been increasing reliance on private space companies, but the company near-Earth orbital space habitat work, no one company expressed interest in taking over the overall international space station.
Open space, the International Space Station is to develop the economy and thus would like to see the private sector take over the International Space Station. In more than 30 billion dollars per year to the International Space Station NASA budget provided about one-third for operating costs. The United States wants to stop providing funding for the International Space Station in the late 2020s.
NASA hopes to free up funds for the 2024 Artemis perform tasks to return to the moon in 2030 and the first humans to Mars program.
But it is unclear commercial activities in Earth orbit if profitable, because the cost of getting there first is still very expensive.
NASA will continue in the near-Earth orbit research and testing to develop lunar exploration program, in cooperation with the private sector at the same time, test technology, training astronauts, space and enhance the booming economy.
Provide more opportunities to the International Space Station in manufacturing, sales and marketing of commercial products and services, will help to promote and expand space for many companies to explore the market.
According to "Washington Post" reported last year, since 1993, Boeing was selected to develop and build this floating laboratory, the company has been the prime contractor for NASA on the International Space Station. (Little Fox)