By 
June 20th, 2019
Source: ULA/SpaceX via GAO report 18-476
The United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) has released a report: “Schedule Uncertainty Persists for Start of Operational Missions to the International Space Station.”
In 2014, NASA awarded two firm-fixed-price contracts to Boeing and SpaceX, worth a combined total of up to $6.8 billion, to develop crew transportation systems and conduct initial missions to the International Space Station.
Before any missions can happen, NASA will have to certify that both contractors’ vehicles are safe for human spaceflight.
Chronic delays
But SpaceX and Boeing have run into chronic delays. While both contractors originally planned to be certified in 2017, now neither is expected to be ready until late 2019 at the earliest.
NASA has bought seats on a Russian vehicle to ensure U.S. access to the space station through September 2020, but does not have a plan if delays with U.S. contractors persist past then.
GAO continues to believe that NASA should develop a contingency plan to ensure uninterrupted access to the ISS if delays persist beyond September 2020. NASA generally agreed with GAO’s findings.
Highlights page go to:
https://www.gao.gov/assets/700/699882.pdf
Full report, go to:
Posted in Space News
