Washington, DC – A decade ago, a crucial meeting took place at NASA Headquarters that would shape the future of space travel. The decision on which company would be awarded billions of dollars to transport astronauts into orbit was at stake.
Boeing, SpaceX, and Sierra Nevada Corporation were the top contenders in NASA’s Commercial Crew competition in the early 2010s. Each company brought its unique strengths to the table, with Boeing boasting a long history in spaceflight, SpaceX having already developed the Dragon capsule, and Sierra Nevada presenting the Dream Chaser spaceplane.
In 2014, the competition intensified as NASA prepared to select one or at most two companies to move forward from the design phase to full development. SpaceX’s Elon Musk unveiled the Crew Dragon spacecraft with much fanfare, showcasing its innovative capability to land under its own power with SuperDraco thrusters.
Despite skepticism from Boeing’s camp, SpaceX’s competitive bid and technical prowess positioned them as a front-runner in the Commercial Crew program evaluation. Boeing’s higher cost proposal was offset by SpaceX’s lower bid, along with favorable ratings in mission suitability and past performance evaluations.
The decision-making process involved thorough evaluations by the source evaluation board, which ultimately led to the elimination of Sierra Nevada Corporation from the competition. This left Boeing and SpaceX as the primary contenders, with SpaceX’s cost-effective bid and technical capabilities giving it an edge.
NASA’s Phil McAlister oversaw the evaluation process, emphasizing the importance of price, mission suitability, and past performance in determining the winning bid. While Boeing received high ratings in the latter two categories, SpaceX’s competitive pricing and strong technical score positioned them as the likely winner of the Commercial Crew contract.
The competition between Boeing and SpaceX exemplified the evolving landscape of space exploration, with innovation and cost efficiency being key factors in NASA’s decision-making process. The final selection would not only impact the future of space travel but also propel the chosen company to new heights in the realm of commercial spaceflight.