NASA has announced plans to launch US citizens, in US built commercial spaceships, from US soil within the next five years. It may or may not be considered a giant leap for mankind, but it's certainly a big step forward in commercial space travel. Earlier this week, NASA named three private sector partners, who have committed a total of over USD 1.1 billion to the project.

Sierra Nevada Corporation will make the smallest contribution – USD 212.5 million, while SpaceX, which has already built rockets and orbiter capsules sent to the International Space Station (in picture), will stump up USD 440 million. The biggest chunk of cash comes from US aviation company Boeing, which has committed USD 460 million to the All-American spaceship plans. The agreements, made through the Commercial Crew Integrated Capability (CCiCap) initiative, “are intended to ultimately lead to the availability of commercial human spaceflight services for government and commercial customers,” said NASA.

“We have selected three companies that will help keep us on track to end the outsourcing of human spaceflight and create high-paying jobs in Florida and elsewhere across the country,” said NASA Administrator Charles Bolden. The project will see the private sector providing fully integrated space crew transport systems for the first time. Between now and May 31, 2014, NASA's partners will carry out tests and finish off integrated designs. Following this, manned-missions can be planned for the middle of the decade.

“The benefits to humanity from these endeavors are incalculable. We're counting on the creativity of industry to provide the next generation of transportation to low Earth orbit and expand human presence, making space accessible and open for business,” William Gerstenmaier of NASA.

Liam Lever, liam@romania-insider.com

photo source: nasa.gov