After almost a decade, NASA is sending US astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) from American soil using Elon Musk’s SpaceX Rocket.

The last manned spaceflight by the US was sent on 8 July 2011 under the Space Shuttle program. After this launch, the program was retired. Since then NASA has relied on Russian Soyuz spacecraft. (not so much enmity here?)

Since its inception in 1981, the Space Shuttle program launched 135 times - 2 of which failed. The tragic failures of both the Challenger and Columbia orbiters, in 1986 and 2003 led to the deaths of 14 astronauts - all seven crew members on each mission.

In 2010, NASA launched its Commercial Crew Program to find private sector partners (focus kids, focus!) who could launch astronauts safely to the ISS, but funding issues delayed the initial launches.

It costs up to $86m (£70m) per seat for astronauts traveling to the ISS using Soyuz rockets from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

As part of NASA's program, two US-based companies - Elon Musk's SpaceX and Boeing - are going to return this human spaceflight capability to American soil with cheaper seat costs around $55m (£45m) for SpaceX and $70m (£57m) for Boeing (Still creamy enough!). On a lighter note: It is amusing that hardly anyone is talking about Boeing’s role here. 

It is a big win for two visionaries, Elon Musk and Ex-President Barack Obama who provided support to the private space industry when it was needed.

You may ask why India Startup Review is discussing the American Space mission? ICYMI, India has recently announced that it will allow corporatization of space business in India. ISRO will provide the necessary support to help Indian Space startups to create amazing technologies. While ISRO themselves are the most respected yet despised space agency for their phenomenal satellite and space missions and ming numbing low costs, the addition of private players from India would mean India’s prowess in the over $50 billion space business.

India Startup Review welcomes Indian Space and related businesses to get in touch with us at Founder@IndiaStartupReview.com to discuss what they are working on and what Indian youngsters, businessmen, and investors need to know about the space full of opportunity.