Boeing reveals commercial crew capsule

[Rick]

Boeing has revealed its capsule concept for NASA's $50 million Commercial Crew Development (CCD) initiative. The seven-person craft is larger than an Apollo capsule. It can be launched by different rockets and has a cargo variant. Boeing, which will match NASA's $18 million funding, has for the capsule project teamed with Bigelow Aerospace, which has its own plans to launch a private space station in 2014. Boeing is one of five companies awarded funded Space Act agreements under the CCD initiative. President Barack Obama's fiscal year 2011 budget also features $500 million to start a five-year $6 billion commercial crew programme, for which Boeing and other CCD winners must re-compete.


© Boeing

Boeing Commercial Crew Development Initiative capsule concept

[Rick]

Don't we already have one of these which is called Orion?

[spacefan]

This capsule sounds like it is going to be superior to orion. Partnering with Bigelow is good as another destination in space would mean more launches that can only make this whole commercial endeavour more secure.

[Me2]

Don't we already have one of these which is called Orion?

Orion isn't commercial. We will see if is viable as commercial if LM decides to run with it.

[Rick]

I realize its not. It just appears to me to be a waste of funding starting over. Frankly, I am surprised Orion is in the proposal to be scrapped.