Fri, Dec 16, 2011
Space Act Agreements Should Shorten The Gap, Create Jobs,
Reduce Dependence On Russia
The Commercial Spaceflight Federation issued a statement
Thursday congratulating NASA on the agency’s important
decision to continue to use Space Act Agreements for the Commercial
Crew Development Program. The organization feels the decision will
shorten the gap in U.S. access to space, help spur additional
private investment, reduce America's dependence on Russia, save
taxpayer money, ensure the future of the International Space
Station, and increase industry competition. Now that the Space
Shuttle has retired, the Commercial Crew Program is the fastest way
for America to regain our domestic access to space.
“Space Act Agreements are a proven way to get rapid,
cost-effective results and will help ensure that the Commercial
Crew Program is a success,” said CSF Executive Director Alex
Saltman. “Space Act Agreements were used in the previous
rounds of the Commercial Crew program, as well as the COTS Cargo
Program. A NASA cost study has shown that the COTS Cargo
development program, using Space Act Agreements, has been
successful for a fraction of what a traditionally run program would
have cost.”
“Competition is the key to the Commercial Crew Program, and
we are pleased to see that NASA is continuing to promote
competition, as recommended by the Government Accountability Office
in a report released today (Thursday).”
“This decision maximizes NASA's bang-for-the-buck and brings
America one big step closer to replacing the Space Shuttle with
safe, reliable, and affordable commercial transportation to
low-Earth orbit. The commercial crew program is an exciting
partnership between commercial companies and NASA to combine
innovative ideas and new investment from the private sector with
NASA's deep experience in human spaceflight.”
Thursday's decision by NASA to continue using Space Act Agreements
is supported by the results of previous programs. All recent NASA
and Air Force launch vehicle development programs that have
resulted in flights to orbit have used similar milestone-based
agreements, rather than traditional contracts, for system
development.
In June 2011, the CSF released a public white paper titled,
“Commercial Spaceflight Federation Supports Use of Space Act
Agreements (SAAs) for Next Phase of NASA’s Commercial Crew
Development Program,” stating, “SAAs are the best means
for NASA to support commercial development of systems to transport
crew and cargo to the Space Station.”
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