NASA’s schedule calls for awarding Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) funding for servicing the International Space Station with private spaceships on August 8.
Six commercial space companies have made it to the final round for consideration by NASA, but as Gwynne Shotwell, business development manager for Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX), one of the finalists, cautioned me today, “It’s not a win yet until we get an award. It’s not clear whether they’re going to pick all six.”
I’ve heard speculation from other reps at companies among the six finalists that anywhere from one to three companies will get funding from NASA to aid development of their spaceships-in-progress, but no word yet from NASA on the actual number.
NASA’s next step is to begin negotiations with the finalists. SpaceX has its “kick-off telecon” tomorrow.