Orbital Sciences / COTS / CRS / NASA Commercial Space Program Orbital Sciences philosophy and overview with respect to the COTS Program. Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) Credit: NASA / Orbital Sciences … By: ThunderAerospace Continue reading
Tag Archives: cots
NASA Commercial Partner Orbital Sciences Successfully Conducts Engine Test – Video
NASA Commercial Partner Orbital Sciences Successfully Conducts Engine Test The company fired dual AJ26 rocket engines for approximately 30 seconds while the rocket was bolted down on the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) Pad-0A at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Wallops Island, Va. The test demonstrated the readiness of the rocket's first stage and launch pad fueling systems to support upcoming test flights. Orbital is building and testing its new rocket and Cygnus cargo spacecraft under NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program. Continue reading
Cygnus – Pressurized Cargo Modules – Video
Cygnus – Pressurized Cargo Modules The Cygnus maneuvering spacecraft has been developed by Orbital Space Science to demonstrate cargo delivery under NASA Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) agreement. In addition to the COTS development and demonstration program, Orbital will utilize the Cygnus to perform the ISS resupply flights under the Commercial Resupply Service (CRS) contract. Continue reading
Might NASA be Forced to Kill the Commercial Space Race?
It looks like the commercial space race might be over before it’s even really begun. Last week, Congress approved a spending bill that demands NASA immediately choose one company for the commercial crew program, and this week they will be voting on it. Killing the private competition is meant to save money and speed up development, but more likely it will be devastating to NASA’s already stretched budget Continue reading