According to a Space.com article and I’m sure NASA and Virgin Galactic press releases, a Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S. space agency and Virgin Galactic was signed on Tuesday. This will allow, I quote “NASA to eye future collaboration with the space tourism firm on the development of spacesuits, spacecraft heat shields, hybrid rocket motors and hypersonic vehicles.”
Interesting stuff indeed. Makes a change from the typical ‘lets slag off NASA and the big agencies’ attitude. Refreshing to see the commercial companies working with the like of NASA. Slumbering giants they may be, but they also have some incredible talent and knowledge within.
3 comments:
Also, VERY interesting that they are forming this agreement with a UK company. Usually they limit anything technology transfer to US companies.
Can you provide a relevant NASA press release link?
The weblink to the NASA press releases is below. What is interesting is that NASA released a second comment clarifying the nature of the relationship...
http://www.nasa.gov/audience/formedia/archives/index.html
Indeed. The Clarification reads:
MOFFET FIELD, Calif. - NASA officials signed a memorandum of understanding Tuesday with a U.S. company, Virgin Galactic, LLC, to explore the potential for collaborations on the development of space suits, heat shields for spaceships, hybrid rocket motors and hypersonic vehicles capable of traveling five or more times the speed of sound.
The memorandum is only a framework to explore potential collaborations. It does not include training of NASA astronauts, an agreement to buy seats on a Virgin Galactic flight, or provision of technical advice by NASA to Virgin Galactic.
So, they're just talking about talking.
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