NASA needs ex-astronauts to guide business missions to ISS – IT Professional – Information

NASA needs former astronauts to guide business flights to the ISS. They then must journey to and from the area station as mission commanders. NASA revealed a coverage proposal for this on Thursday.

Beneath the coverage proposal, which isn’t but last, NASA studies that it’s finalizing “a brand new requirement {that a} former US NASA astronaut function mission commander on upcoming non-public astronaut missions.” Such a former astronaut can present “skilled steering” to non-public astronauts throughout flight preparation and mission execution, based on the area company.

This requirement is meant to extend passenger security and likewise cut back dangers to the operation of the Worldwide Area Station. The brand new coverage proposal would additionally give area vacationers longer to organize for a flight to the ISS. As well as, new medical necessities would apply to non-public astronauts.

NASA is making the coverage proposals primarily based on “classes” the group has realized after finishing its first non-public flight to the ISS. That business flight befell in April. Area vacationers from Axiom Area every paid $55 million to fly to the ISS and work on their very own area exploration. That mission was already led by a former NASA astronaut, Michael López-Alegría. Axiom beforehand thought-about conducting future missions with no skilled astronaut on board, additionally writes Engadget. NASA’s new coverage would presumably prohibit that. Later this yr, Axiom Area will maintain one other business Ax-2 mission to the ISS. Former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson leads that flight.