NASA approves SpaceX to Bring Astronauts to International Space Station

NASA approved another space mission for commercial space flight SpaceX to bring astronauts to the International Space Station.

In a report by Time NASA announced the space mission Friday after a recent order was approved for Boeing to carry astronauts into space. This does not come as a surprise as this marks the first of four missions that NASA has guaranteed to give SpaceX. However, this doesn't mean SpaceX has regained the full confidence of NASA after the disastrous rocket crash last year. According to NASA, commercial space flights could propel the research capabilities done on the International Space Station. The launch is reportedly going to be carried out on 2017.

According to NBC News, SpaceX's Dragon will bring astronauts and cargo to the International Space Station and they will stay there for seven months before they are sent back to Earth. Boeing received the same approval in May. Boeing's Starliner is still under development and has the capability to transport 4 to 6 astronauts inexpensively, but efficiently.

"It's really exciting to see SpaceX and Boeing with hardware in flow for their first crew rotation missions," according to Kathy Lueders, the mission's program manager. "It is important to have at least two healthy and robust capabilities from U.S. companies to deliver crew and critical scientific experiments from American soil to the space station throughout its lifespan."

The Verge reported that space missions are approved two to three years before the launch so that companies will have enough time to assemble their spacecraft. SpaceX and Boeing haven't really built their space vehicles yet.

Meanwhile, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden has appealed to the Congress many times, saying that the Commercial Crew Program is underfunded. If NASA will not get enough money to fund the missions on either Boeing or SpaceX, the missions will be delayed to 2018.