geekosystem

While SpaceX may be leading the headlines as a leader in the commercial space sector, they aren't the only ones working with NASA to build next generation spaceships. Boeing, that venerable aeronautics company, has thrown its hat in as well with its CST-100 capsule. This past Wednesday, the parachutes designed to bring the spaceship safely to the ground passed a critical test in the Nevada desert.

On July 21, the Space Shuttle Atlantis landed for the last time, ending three decades of missions in space. With the conclusion of the Shuttle program, the quest to restore the United States' ability to send astronauts beyond the Earth became far more urgent. Though NASA has been working on a new vehicle since 2004, it also began supporting a number of home-grown commercial space operations. As part of the Commercial Crew Development initiative, four companies have started work on spacecraft that will eventually carry astronauts to the International Space Station -- and perhaps beyond.