Near-term, low-risk, low-cost ISS Cargo Delivery Services on U.S. Vehicles | CSI

By Charles Miller, President (2006), Posted 08/08/09

Link: http://www.constellationservices.com/csi_publicoffer_isscargo_jul06.pdf

This presentation documents the Constellation Services International (CSI) development of a flexible and optimal modular cargo transport system that uses U.S. vehicles for launch and Russian vehicles for on-orbit transfer to the ISS (the challenging "last mile").  They submitted their plan to the NASA COTS competition and received high evaluation ratings except that they scored low on "new U.S. technology development", a key political rating factor.  Miller argues that current ISS space operations are currently supported by a mixture of U.S. and Russian technology based on business decisions to drive near-term, low-risk and lost-cost solutions.  The CSI system is designed to allow flexible use of the best launcher and last-mile transport options.  This apparent conflict of good business practices and political considerations related to "buying American" is well-known these days.  However, if U.S. space commerce is going to be reliable, affordable and profitable, a reevaluation of this position by NASA should be considered especially while the private sector works hard to become viable.