Boeing and NASA recently established the firm baseline configuration for the company's Commercial Crew Transportation System, achieving the first performance milestone in NASA's Commercial Crew integrated Capability (CCiCap) initiative.

During the Integrated Systems Review, Boeing's approaches to the spacecraft, launch system and ground operations were evaluated for compliance with NASA's requirements, including safety and mission assurance, avionics and software, International Space Station (ISS) integration, and crew and mission operations.

Boeing also presented results from current development data from tests with its Crew Space Transportation (CST)-100 vehicle.

"The rigor of our design and development process, along with resources from across the Boeing enterprise and our outstanding team of suppliers, will position the CST-100 spacecraft as the next crew transportation vehicle to the ISS and other low Earth orbit destinations," said John Mulholland, Commercial Programs vice president and program manager for Boeing.

"Our industry partners are gearing up to push their human spaceflight technologies further than ever before so America can have its own crew transportation system around the middle of the decade," said Ed Mango, Commercial Crew program manager for NASA.

"This review was just the first of many exciting and valuable milestones Boeing is expected to complete during its funded partnership with NASA."

The CCiCap phase of the Commercial Crew program addresses development milestones to be completed in a 21-month base period, with the potential for additional milestones in a subsequent options period.

Having completed more than 50 milestones in the previous two phases of the program, Boeing is continuing to mature the development of its Commercial Crew Transportation System to provide safe, reliable and affordable access to the ISS.