N a S a Fa C Ts

NASA providing technicalandfinancialassistance. companies leadanddirect theirownefforts, with andotherpotentialcustomers. The government space transportationcapabilitiestoservetheU.S. industry developanddemonstrateitsowncargo (COTS). UnderCOTS,NASAishelpingcommercial Commercial OrbitalTransportation Services The firstphaseofthisstrategyisknownas new industry. Cargo Program isthecatalystforthisexpanding vital importance.NASA’s Commercial Crew and SpaceStationisof to spaceandtheInternational try totakeonthetaskofproviding routine access beyond low-Earthorbit,theabilityforprivateindus- As NASAsetsitssightsonexploringonceagain SpaceStation. Earth orbitandtheInternational of deliveringcargo –andpossiblycrew –tolow- from thecommercial industry, creating anewway development ofnewspacecraftandlaunchvehicles the program ishelpingspurtheinnovationand transportation capabilities.Inamultiphasestrategy, demonstrate safe,reliable, andcost-effective space late efforts withintheprivatesectortodevelopand investing financialandtechnical resources tostimu- NASA’s Commercial Crew andCargo Program is Through arevolutionary program begunin2006, Overview Commercial OrbitalTransportation Services Commercial Crew andCargoProgram Administration Space and Aeronautics National Space Station. approaching theInternational COTS Dragonspacecraft An artist’s depictionofaSpaceX SpaceX Image that companiescouldpursue: COTS wascreated withfour different capabilities progress toward theirgoals. reach certainmilestones.Thisencouragessteady that thecompaniesare paidincrementally asthey tions. AuniqueaspectoftheCOTSprogram is toward cargo spacetransportationdemonstra- NASA isinvestingapproximately $500million companies to resupply the station through 2015. future cargo delivery services from both of these Space Station Program has already purchased demonstrations in 2010 and 2011. The International gies and capabilities to complete orbital space flight have been working vigorously to develop technolo- their competitive selection, these two companies and Orbital Sciences Corporation (Orbital). Since NASA: Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) Two companies have funded COTS agreements with • • • • Orbital Image Space Station. International approaching the COTS Cygnusspacecraft An artist’s depictionofOrbital’s

and return Capability A:Exter funded) Capability D:Cr Capability C:Inter and disposal Capability B:Inter ery anddisposal

ew transportation(currently not nal/pressurized cargo delivery nal/pressurized cargo delivery nal/unpressurized cargo deliv-

NASAfacts Orbital Sciences Corporation Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) Just 100 miles up the coast from where the Wright brothers first flew their At Florida’s Cape Canaveral, within airplane at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, sight of where every NASA human Orbital is planning to launch its new spaceflight mission has launched, COTS system at the Mid-Atlantic SpaceX is planning to launch its new Regional Spaceport (MARS), located COTS system. Established in 2002, at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in SpaceX is well into the development Virginia. Founded in 1982 with the of a new family of launch vehicles, and goal of making space technology has already established an extensive more affordable, accessible, and launch manifest. SpaceX is based on useful, Orbital has grown to become the philosophy that simplicity, low cost, a leading developer and manufacturer and reliability go hand in hand. SpaceX of space and rocket systems. Its personnel have a rich history of launch COTS system design is based on vehicle and engine experience, and are the new Taurus II rocket with a liquid developing their Dragon cargo and crew oxygen (LOX)/kerosene (RP-1) first capsule and the Falcon family of rockets stage powered by two Aerojet AJ-26 from the ground up, including main- and engines. The Taurus II second stage upper-stage engines, cryogenic tank is ATK’s Castor 30 solid propellant structure, avionics, guidance and control motor derived from their flight- software, and ground support equipment. proven Castor 120. The spacecraft, SpaceX launch vehicles and spacecraft known as Cygnus, is derived from are designed for refurbishment and reuse Orbital’s heritage DAWN and STAR that, if successful, would make them the spacecraft projects and International world’s first fully reusable launch vehicles. Space Station cargo carriers.

An artist’s depiction of Orbital’sTaurus II An image of SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on Orbital Image rocket on MARS launch pad. Pad 40 at Cape Canaveral, Florida. SpaceX Image

By the Numbers Launch Vehicle Orbital Taurus II SpaceX Falcon 9 Height 40.1 m 48.1 m Diameter 3.90 m 3.66 m Mass at Launch 275,000 kg 313,000 kg Payload to International Space Station Orbit 5,200 kg 9,800 kg First Stage Thrust 3.45 MN (775,000 lbs) 3.80 MN (854,000 lbs) Propellant LOX and RP-1 LOX and RP-1 Second Stage Thrust 320 kN (72,000 lbs) 414 kN (93,000 lbs) Propellant Solid propellant LOX and RP-1

Cargo Spacecraft Orbital Cygnus SpaceX Dragon Height 5.1 m 5.1 m Diameter 3.05 m 3.66 m Maximum Pressurized Cargo Up Mass / Volume 2,000 kg / 18.75 m3 3,310 kg / 6.8 m3 Down Mass / Volume 2,000 kg / 18.75 m3 Disposed 2,500 kg / 6.8 m3 Maximum Unpressurized Cargo Up Mass / Volume 0 3,310 kg / 14 m3 Down Mass / Volume 0 2,600 kg / 14 m3 Disposed Reflects configurations of the first resupply missions to the International Space Station.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Houston, Texas 77058 www.nasa.gov

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