Zee Media Bureau
Washington: Boeing is entering into a new domain of space-bound flight operations. Boeing has unveiled a mock up of the interior of their new Crew Space Transportation (CST-100) vehicle that will be used to astronauts into space in the coming years.
This capsule is funded by NASA as part of its `Commercial Crew Integrated Capability` initiative, is designed to transport crew and cargo to low-earth orbit.
The spacecraft will be used to take astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS).
“We are moving into a truly commercial space market and we have to consider our potential customers - beyond NASA,” Chris Ferguson, Boeing director of crew and mission operations for the commercial crew programme was quoted as saying.
Boeing, along with partner Bigelow Aerospace, recently showcased the future commercial interior of the spacecraft.
The CST-100 is designed to carry a crew of seven people into orbit to the ISS. The seats are lightweight and plastic to keep the weight of the capsule down and also has large number of windows.
It is in direct competition with SpaceX`s manned Dragon capsule and Sierra Nevada`s Dream Chaser space plane, all of which are vying to be the first private company to take humans into space.
