View source for Commercial Orbital Transportation Services

{{short description|Former NASA program}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}}
[[File:Cots logo.jpg|right|thumb|Logo used for the COTS program]]
'''Commercial Orbital Transportation Services''' ('''COTS''') was a [[NASA]] program to spur the development of [[Private spaceflight|private spacecraft]] and launch vehicles for deliveries to the [[International Space Station]] (ISS). Launched in 2006, COTS successfully concluded in 2013 after completing all demonstration flights.

NASA's final report on the program considered it a success and a model for future public-private collaboration. Compared to traditional [[cost-plus contract]]s employed by NASA, such as the $12 billion contract for the [[Orion (spacecraft)|Orion spacecraft]], the $800 million COTS investment resulted in "two new U.S. [[Medium-lift launch vehicle|medium-class launch vehicles]] and two automated cargo spacecraft".<ref>{{Cite press release |title=NASA Releases COTS Final Report |date=3 June 2014 |publisher=NASA |url=http://www.nasa.gov/content/nasa-releases-cots-final-report |access-date=8 June 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807024626/https://www.nasa.gov/content/nasa-releases-cots-final-report/ |archive-date=7 August 2020}}</ref> After the conclusion of the COTS program, NASA shifted towards [[Fixed-price contract|fixed-price contracts]] for crew and cargo services. While the approach has significantly lowered costs for NASA, companies other than SpaceX have struggled under the fixed-price system, with some refusing to bid and others experiencing large losses on contracts.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Berger |first=Eric |date=2024-07-23 |title=SpaceX just stomped the competition for a new contract—that’s not great |url=https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/07/spacex-just-stomped-the-competition-for-a-new-contract-thats-not-great/ |access-date=2024-07-24 |work=Ars Technica |language=en-us}}</ref> 

COTS contracts were awarded to [[SpaceX]] and [[Rocketplane Kistler]], but the latter's agreement was terminated due to insufficient progress. [[Orbital Sciences Corporation]] replaced Rocketplane Kistler in the program in 2008. 

COTS differs from the [[Commercial Resupply Services]] (CRS) program, which procured cargo delivery services using the COTS developed vehicles. COTS employed [[Space Act Agreement|Space Act Agreements]] with milestone-based payments, while CRS utilizes binding contracts with strict performance obligations. The [[Commercial Crew Development]] (CCDev) program, focusing on crew transportation, is similar to COTS and, along with CRS, falls under NASA's Commercial Crew and Cargo Program Office (C3PO). 

== Purpose ==
Unlike any previous NASA project, the proposed spacecraft were intended to be owned and financed primarily by the companies themselves and were designed to serve both U.S. government agencies and commercial customers. NASA will contract for missions as its needs become clear.

This was more challenging than existent commercial space transportation because it required precision [[orbit insertion]], [[in-orbit rendezvous|rendezvous]] and possibly docking with another spacecraft. The [[private spaceflight]] vendors<ref>{{Cite web |title=COTS Vendors |url=http://procurement.jsc.nasa.gov/cots/Vendors.xls |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060929071448/http://procurement.jsc.nasa.gov/cots/Vendors.xls |archive-date=29 September 2006 |publisher=NASA Johnson Space Center |format=xls}}</ref> were competing for four specific service areas:

* Capability level A: External unpressurized cargo delivery and disposal
* Capability level B: Internal pressurized cargo delivery and disposal
* Capability level C: Internal pressurized cargo delivery, return and recovery
* Capability level D: Crew Transportation (was not funded, but formed the basis of CCDev)

== Program rationale ==
NASA explored a program for ISS services in the mid 1990s entitled "Alt Access" for Alternate Access.  While NASA funded Alt Access no further than preliminary studies, this program convinced numerous entrepreneurs that ISS could emerge as a significant market opportunity.

After years of keeping orbital transport for [[Manned space mission|human spaceflight]] in-house, NASA concluded that firms in a [[free market]] could develop and operate such a system more efficiently and affordably than a government [[bureaucracy]].<ref name="griffin_2006">{{Cite web |date=20 October 2006 |title=X Prize Comments by Mike Griffin |url=http://www.comspacewatch.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=22396 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090824204943/http://www.comspacewatch.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=22396 |archive-date=24 August 2009 |access-date=6 June 2007 |publisher=NASA}}</ref> The then NASA Administrator [[Michael D. Griffin]] stated that without affordable Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS), the agency will not have enough funds remaining to achieve the objectives of the [[Vision for Space Exploration]].<ref name="griffin_2006" />  In November 2005, Dr. Griffin articulated that:

:"With the advent of the [[ISS]], there will exist for the first time a strong, identifiable market for 'routine' transportation service to and from LEO, and that this will be only the first step in what will be a huge opportunity for truly commercial space enterprise. We believe that when we engage the engine of competition, these services will be provided in a more cost-effective fashion than when the government has to do it."<ref>{{Cite conference |last=Griffin |first=Michael |last2=Valin Thorn |date=11 January 2007 |title=Commercial Crew & Cargo Program Overview |url=http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/168735main_AIAA_2007_COTS.pdf |location=Reno, Nevada |publisher=NASA |page=2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020051528/http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/168735main_AIAA_2007_COTS.pdf |archive-date=20 October 2012 |access-date=6 June 2007 |book-title=45th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Furthermore, if such services were unavailable by the end of 2010, NASA would have been forced to purchase orbital transportation services on foreign spacecraft such as the [[Russian Federal Space Agency]]'s [[Soyuz spacecraft|Soyuz]] and [[Progress spacecraft]], the [[European Space Agency]]'s [[Automated Transfer Vehicle]], or the [[Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency]]'s [[H-II Transfer Vehicle]] since NASA's own [[Crew Exploration Vehicle]], since refocused, would not have been ready until 2014.

In 2007 NASA asserted that once COTS was operational, it would no longer procure Russian cargo delivery services.<ref name="Gerstenmaier 2007">{{Cite conference |last=Gerstenmaier |first=William |date=18 May 2007 |title=Need for Commercial Cargo to ISS |url=http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/industry/advisory_committee/meeting_news/media/COMSTAC_Gerstenmaier%205_18_07.ppt |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=FAA |page=2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090226213845/http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/industry/advisory_committee/meeting_news/media/COMSTAC_Gerstenmaier%205_18_07.ppt |archive-date=26 February 2009 |access-date=13 June 2007 |book-title=FAA Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Council |url-status=dead}}</ref>
NASA anticipates that COTS services to ISS will be necessary through at least 2015.  NASA projects at most a half-dozen COTS flights a year that would transport 10 tonnes annually.<ref name="Gerstenmaier 2007" /> The NASA Administrator has suggested that space transportation services procurement may be expanded to orbital [[Propellant depot|fuel depots]] and [[Moon#Physical characteristics|lunar surface]] deliveries should the first phase of COTS prove successful.<ref>[http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/203082main_C3PO%20-TEC%20Briefing%20Nov_2007.pdf "Commercial Space Development – What's the Next?"]. NASA, 15 November 2007.</ref>

On 22 May 2012, [[William H. Gerstenmaier|Bill Gerstenmaier]]  confirmed that NASA was no longer purchasing any cargo resupply services from Russia and would rely solely on the American CRS vehicles, the [[SpaceX Dragon]] and Orbital Sciences' [[Cygnus (spacecraft)|Cygnus]]; with the exception of a few vehicle-specific payloads delivered on the European [[Automated Transfer Vehicle|ATV]] and the Japanese [[H-II Transfer Vehicle|HTV]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 May 2012 |title=SpaceX/NASA Discuss launch of Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJNNiYPyAeQ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/hJNNiYPyAeQ |archive-date=19 December 2021 |access-date=23 June 2012 |publisher=NASA}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

== History ==
=== Background ===
In February 2004, NASA awarded a contract to [[Kistler Aerospace]] (which later became Rocketplane Kistler) for $227 million, despite the fact that Kistler had already filed for bankruptcy a year before. Some observers saw this as a gift for the head of Kistler, NASA legend [[George Mueller (engineer)|George Mueller]].<ref name="Berger 2021" /> This upset [[Elon Musk]], as there had not been a competition and Musk could have used the funding at [[SpaceX]]. Musk protested, and NASA withdrew the contract to Kistler after hearing that the [[Government Accountability Office]] planned to issue a ruling in support of Musk. NASA returned to the planning phase, and this eventually resulted in the COTS competition.<ref name="Berger 2021">{{Cite book |last=Berger |first=Eric |title=Liftoff |publisher=[[William Morrow and Company]] |year=2021 |isbn=978-0-06-297997-1 |pages=109–110}}</ref>

=== First round ===
[[File:COTS2Dragon.6.jpg|thumb|[[SpaceX Dragon 1|SpaceX Dragon]] approaches the ISS on its [[SpaceX COTS Demo Flight 2|COTS demonstration flight]].]]
Boeing may have submitted a proposal in conjunction with Arianespace to launch the ESA ATV module on a Delta IV rocket.<ref name="Boeing Delta ATV">{{Cite web |date=12 April 2005 |title=Boeing set to offer Delta IV-launched ATV |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/boeing-set-to-offer-delta-iv-launched-atv-196453/}}</ref> Whereas the ESA launches the ATV on an Ariane 5, the two companies worked together to make this proposal.<ref name="Boeing Delta ATV" /> The ATV can carry up to 7.6 metric tons with a suitable launcher.<ref name="Boeing Delta ATV" />

In May 2006, NASA selected six semifinalist proposals for further evaluation: [[SpaceX]], [[Andrews Space]], [[t/Space|Transformational Space Corp.]], [[Rocketplane Kistler]] ("RpK"), [[Spacehab]], and [[SpaceDev]].<ref>Valin Thorn, "[http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/168735main_AIAA_2007_COTS.pdf Commercial Crew & Cargo Program Overview] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020051528/http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/168735main_AIAA_2007_COTS.pdf |date=2012-10-20 }}," AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting, 11 January 2007 (accessed 28 April 2014).</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Belfiore |first=Michael |date=9 May 2006 |title=NASA makes first round of cuts for COTS |url=http://michaelbelfiore.com/blog/2006/05/nasa-makes-first-round-of-cuts-for.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060614075601/http://michaelbelfiore.com/blog/2006/05/nasa-makes-first-round-of-cuts-for.html |archive-date=14 June 2006 |access-date=21 November 2006 |website=Dispatches from the Final Frontier}}</ref>

On 18 August 2006, NASA's Exploration Systems Mission Directorate (ESMD) announced that SpaceX and Rocketplane Kistler won Phase I of the COTS program.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=NASA Selects Crew and Cargo Transportation to Orbit Partners |date=18 August 2006 |publisher=NASA |url=http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2006/aug/HQ_06295_COTS_phase_1.html |access-date=21 November 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110820074547/http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2006/aug/HQ_06295_COTS_phase_1.html |archive-date=20 August 2011}}</ref> NASA planned to engage winners in funded Space Act agreements through 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dunbar |first=Brian |title=NASA – NASA Invests in Private Sector Space Flight with SpaceX, Rocketplane-Kistler |url=https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/news/COTS_selection.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210908075306/https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/news/COTS_selection.html |archive-date=8 September 2021 |access-date=18 May 2021 |website=www.nasa.gov |language=en}}</ref>

On 8 November 2006 RpK and ATK announced that ATK would become the lead contractor for the K-1.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Rocketplane Kistler and ATK Announce Agreement for K-1 Launch Vehicle and COTS Program |date=8 November 2006 |publisher=ATK |url=http://atk.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=press_releases&item=635 |access-date=21 November 2006}}</ref>

NASA terminated the COTS agreement with RpK in September 2007 after NASA warned RpK that it had failed to raise sufficient private funding by 31 July 2007 deadline,<ref>{{Cite news |date=10 September 2007 |title=RpK's COTS Contract Terminated |url=http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story.jsp?id=news/rocketplane091007.xml&headline=RpK's%20COTS%20Contract%20Terminated%20&channel=space |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110512185739/http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story.jsp?id=news%2Frocketplane091007.xml&headline=RpK%27s%20COTS%20Contract%20Terminated%20&channel=space |archive-date=12 May 2011 |access-date=10 September 2007 |publisher=Aviation Week}}</ref><ref>[https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB118946125133622954?mod=googlenews_wsj NASA Cuts Funds for Private Space Venture]</ref> freeing up $175 million from the COTS budget to be awarded to another company or companies.

=== Second round ===
[[File:Cygnus Orb-D1.5.jpg|thumb|[[Cygnus (spacecraft)|Cygnus]] approaches the ISS on its [[Cygnus Orb-D1|COTS demonstration flight]].]]
By 18 June 2007, NASA had signed separate non-reimbursable Space Act Agreements with three additional firms, Constellation Services International (CSI), SpaceDev and Spacehab.<ref>NASA, [https://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/pdf/180945main_SAA-CSI.pdf Nonreimbursable Space Act Agreement], 5 June 2007. Retrieved 3 June 2020.</ref><ref>SpaceHab, and SpaceDev{{Cite news |date=19 June 2007 |title=NASA Signs Space Act Agreements with Three More Firms |url=http://www.space.com/news/070618_sn_COTSweb.html |access-date=11 December 2007 |publisher=Space News}}</ref> These agreements included no financial support, however NASA agreed to share information to help the companies to develop their proposed vehicles.

On 22 October 2007, NASA solicited proposals for the $175 million in unawarded first round funds.<ref>{{Cite news |date=19 October 2007 |title=NASA Reopens COTS Bidding |url=http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story.jsp?id=news/bidding101907.xml&headline=NASA%20Reopens%20COTS%20Bidding&channel=space |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110512185753/http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story.jsp?id=news%2Fbidding101907.xml&headline=NASA%20Reopens%20COTS%20Bidding&channel=space |archive-date=12 May 2011 |access-date=28 October 2007 |publisher=Aviation Week}}</ref> Some of the new contenders who entered before the deadline in November 2007 for the funding were [[Spacehab]], [[t/Space]], [[Andrews Space]], [[PlanetSpace]] and [[SpaceDev]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=7 January 2008 |title=COTS 1.5 Roundup |url=http://spacefellowship.com/News/?p=4127 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120730162053/http://spacefellowship.com/News/?p=4127 |archive-date=30 July 2012 |access-date=12 January 2008 |publisher=Space Fellowship}}</ref>

In January 2008 industry sources claimed that the field had been downselected to four; Spacehab, Andrews Space, PlanetSpace and Orbital Sciences, with the announcement date set to 7 February.<ref>{{Cite news |date=8 January 2008 |title=NASA Picks Finalists for Space Station Resupply Demonstrations |url=http://www.space.com/news/080118-nasa-cots-finalists.html |access-date=27 January 2008 |publisher=Imaginova/Space.com}}</ref> Several sources later suggested that Boeing and not Andrews was a final contestant.<ref>{{Cite web |date=5 February 2008 |title=COTS I ReAward Final Cut Poll |url=https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=11516.msg238477#msg238477 |publisher=forum.NasaSpaceflight.com}}</ref>

On 19 February 2008, the second round selection was made to [[Orbital Sciences Corporation]], for the [[Cygnus spacecraft]].<ref name="Cygnus">[http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5361 NASASpaceflight.com – Orbital beat a dozen competitors to win NASA COTS contract]</ref> NASA's selection statement showed that Orbital beat Boeing on expected lower costs and the added benefit of a new medium lift launcher Taurus II with Andrews, PlanetSpace and Spacehab being eliminated on funding concerns.<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 April 2008 |title=COTS Selection Statement – Feb, 08 |url=http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=12822.0 |publisher=forum.NasaSpaceflight.com}}</ref>

Following the original $500M Space Act Agreement, an additional $288M in "augmentation" funding was awarded to the two contractors before the demonstration flights.<ref name="Gerstenmaier Statement" />

=== Program conclusion ===
The COTS program was successfully concluded in November 2013 after two companies, SpaceX and Orbital Sciences, designed, built and launched "a pair of new spacecraft on rockets that also were newly designed".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Messier |first=Doug |date=6 December 2013 |title=NASA Holds Commercial Crew Pre-proposal Conference |url=http://www.parabolicarc.com/2013/12/06/nasa-holds-commercial-crew-preproposal-conference/ |access-date=7 December 2013 |work=Parabolic Arc}}</ref>  NASA has published its own history of the COTS program including the controlling of the development program using Space Act Agreements (SAA), with lessons for future programs.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 2014 |title=Commercial Orbital Transportation Services – A New Era in Spaceflight |url=http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/files/SP-2014-617.pdf |access-date=4 June 2014 |publisher=NASA |id=NASA/SP-2014-617}}</ref>

== Awards ==
* [[Rocketplane Kistler]] — originally awarded contract worth $207 million; Rocketplane Kistler received only $32.1 million before NASA terminated their contract for failure to complete milestones in October 2007.
* [[SpaceX]] — awarded contract worth $278 million; in 2011 additional milestones were added bringing the total contract value to $396 million.<ref name="Gerstenmaier Statement">{{Cite web |date=26 May 2011 |title=Statement of William H. Gerstenmaier Associate Administrator for Space Operations before the Committee on Science, Space and Technology Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics U.S. House of Representatives |url=http://science.house.gov/sites/republicans.science.house.gov/files/documents/hearings/052611_Gerstenmaier%20Testimony.pdf |access-date=28 April 2014 |publisher=U.S. House of Representatives}}</ref>  <br />On 22 May 2012 SpaceX COTS Demo Flight 2 completed the NASA and SpaceX Space Act Agreement.  Falcon 9 #3 flew capsule [[Dragon C2+]] to the International Space Station.  After rendezvousing, berthing and unloading the capsule successfully reentered landing in the Pacific Ocean.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moskowitz |first=Clara |date=31 May 2012 |title=SpaceX Dragon Capsule Splashes Down in Pacific, Ending Historic Test Flight |url=http://www.space.com/15939-spacex-dragon-capsule-landing-pacific.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120601034043/http://www.space.com/15939-spacex-dragon-capsule-landing-pacific.html |archive-date=1 June 2012 |access-date=31 May 2012 |website=Space.com |location=New York}}</ref>

* [[Orbital Sciences Corporation]] — awarded contract worth $170 million in the second round in February 2008; in 2011 additional milestones were added bringing the total contract value to $288 million.<ref name="Gerstenmaier Statement" /> The [[Antares (rocket)]] made its maiden flight lifting a payload mass simulator to low Earth orbit (LEO) on 21 April 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Orbital Successfully Launches First Antares Rocket |url=http://www.orbital.com/NewsInfo/release.asp?prid=852 |access-date=21 April 2013 |website=press release |publisher=Orbital Sciences Corporation}}</ref> On 18 September 2013, Antares successfully launched a [[Cygnus spacecraft]] to rendezvous with the International Space Station.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dunn,Marcia |date=17 September 2013 |title=Orbital Sciences about to make first space station run |url=https://phys.org/news/2013-09-orbital-sciences-space-station.html |publisher=Phys.org}}</ref>

== Competitors ==
More than twenty organizations had submitted COTS proposals by March 2006.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Boyle |first=Alan |date=2006-03-20 |title=Private ventures vie to service space station |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna11927039 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029173835/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna11927039 |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 October 2020 |access-date=2024-06-21 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref> NASA received new COTS proposals from at least seven firms by 21 November 2007.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Space Systems/Loral Proposes Bus for NASA's Cargo Needs |date=10 December 2007 |publisher=Space News |url=http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/071210-busmon-cots-loral.html |access-date=10 December 2007}}</ref>
{{sticky header}}
{| class="wikitable sticky-header"
|-
! Company
! [[Spacecraft]]
! [[Launch vehicle]]
! Partner
! First<br />round<br />participant
! First<br />round<br />semi-finalist
! Second<br />round<br />participant
! Won<br />round
|-
| [[Orbital Sciences]]<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Orbital and Rocketplane Kistler Announce Strategic Relationship |date=24 July 2006 |publisher=Rocketplane Limited, Inc. |url=http://www.rocketplane.com/en/company/press/20060724a.asp |access-date=21 November 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061017084830/http://www.rocketplane.com/en/company/press/20060724a.asp |archive-date=17 October 2006}}</ref>
| [[Cygnus spacecraft|Cygnus]]<ref name="Cygnus" />
| [[Antares (rocket)|Antares]]<ref name="Cygnus" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Spaceflight Now &#124; Antares &#124; Commercial rocket gets new name as debut launch nears |url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/antares/111212antares/}}</ref>
|
| {{dunno}}
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
|-
| [[SpaceX]]
| [[SpaceX Dragon|Dragon]]
| [[Falcon 9]]
|
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
|-
| [[Andrews Space]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 March 2012 |title=COTS 2006 Demo Competition |url=https://www.nasa.gov/offices/c3po/about/cots_demo_competition.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170622173238/https://www.nasa.gov/offices/c3po/about/cots_demo_competition.html |archive-date=22 June 2017 |access-date=3 November 2022 |publisher=NASA}}</ref>
| [[Andrews Cargo Module]]
| [[Andrews Space|Hercules]]
| [[Alliant Techsystems]], [[MacDonald Dettwiler|MDA]]
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
|-
| [[Boeing Integrated Defense Systems|Boeing]]<ref name="Boeing Delta ATV" /><!-- 2005 just says Boeing might submit bid of ATV on Delta IV  -->
| [[Automated Transfer Vehicle|ATV]]
| [[Delta IV rocket|Delta IV]]
| [[Arianespace]], [[EADS Astrium]]{{clarify|date=March 2013}}<!-- what about Bigelow Aerospace as a partner in the funded round? -->
| {{dunno}}
| {{No}}
| {{dunno}}
| {{No}}
|-
| [[PlanetSpace]]<ref>{{Cite press release |title=NASA signs Space Act Agreement with Planetspace |date=1 February 2007 |publisher=PlanetSpace |url=http://www.planetspace.org/pdf/PressRelease020107.pdf |access-date=11 December 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070317041209/http://www.planetspace.org/pdf/PressRelease020107.pdf |archive-date=17 March 2007}}</ref><ref>{{Cite press release |title=PlanetSpace, Lockheed Martin and ATK team up to bid on NASA COTS |date=21 November 2007 |publisher=PlanetSpace |url=http://www.planetspace.org/pdf/PressRelease112107.pdf |access-date=11 December 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080723184624/http://www.planetspace.org/pdf/PressRelease112107.pdf |archive-date=23 July 2008}}</ref>
| [[Lockheed Martin|Orbital Transfer Vehicle]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Strange space bedfellows |url=http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/11/30/490524.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071202054149/http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/11/30/490524.aspx |archive-date=2 December 2007 |publisher=MSNBC}}</ref>
| [[Athena III]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bergin |first=Chris |date=21 January 2008 |title=ATK's new vehicle to provide multi-access options |url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5337 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080124170355/http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5337 |archive-date=24 January 2008}}</ref>
| [[Alliant Techsystems]], [[Lockheed Martin]]
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
|-
| [[SpaceHab]]<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Spacehab Finalist as NASA's Commercial Space Station Logistics Supplier |date=10 May 2006 |publisher=Spacehab, Inc. |url=http://www.spacehab.com/news/2006/06_05_10.htm |access-date=21 November 2006}}</ref><ref>{{Cite press release |title=Spacehab Responds to NASA RFP Seeking Commercial ISS Resupply Means |date=29 November 2007 |publisher=Spacehab, Inc. |url=http://www.spacehab.com/news/2007/07_11_29.htm |access-date=11 December 2007}}</ref>
| [[ARCTUS]]
| [[Atlas V]]
| [[Lockheed Martin]]
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
|-
| [[Rocketplane Kistler]]
| [[K-1 launch vehicle|K-1]]
| [[K-1 launch vehicle|K-1]]
| [[Orbital Sciences]]<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Orbital To Pull Out of Rocketplane Kistler's COTS Team |date=25 September 2006 |publisher=Space News |url=http://www.space.com/news/060925_kistler.html |access-date=17 December 2007}}</ref>
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
|-
| Venturer Aerospace
| [[S-550]]<ref name=":0" />
| [[Falcon 9]]
| [[SpaceX]]
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
| {{No}}
|-
| [[SpaceDev]]<ref>{{Cite press release |title=SpaceDev Selected as a Finalist in NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) Solicitation |date=15 May 2006 |publisher=SpaceDev, Inc. |url=http://www.spacedev.com/newsite/templates/subpage_article.php?pid=569 |access-date=21 November 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061124093156/http://www.spacedev.com/newsite/templates/subpage_article.php?pid=569 |archive-date=24 November 2006}}</ref><ref>{{Cite press release |title=SpaceDev signs Space Act Agreement with NASA for development of commercial access to space |date=18 June 2007 |publisher=SpaceDev |url=http://www.spacedev.com/press_more_info.php?id=205 |access-date=11 December 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927120050/http://www.spacedev.com/press_more_info.php?id=205 |archive-date=27 September 2011}}</ref>
| [[Dream Chaser]]
| [[Atlas V]]
| [[Lockheed Martin]]
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dunno}}
| {{No}}
|-
| [[t/Space]]<ref>{{Cite press release |title=NASA signs agreement with t/Space |date=1 February 2007 |publisher=t/Space |url=http://www.transformspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=news.view&newsid=7F2AC3EA-D8D6-2305-B3F4768809786AAF |access-date=11 December 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070202194053/http://www.transformspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=news.view&newsid=7F2AC3EA-D8D6-2305-B3F4768809786AAF |archive-date=2 February 2007}}</ref><ref>{{Cite press release |title=t/Space enters COTS second round |date=29 November 2007 |publisher=t/Space |url=http://www.transformspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=news.view&newsid=8D34F05A-E7F7-11C1-74E37AB2DBDA99CC |access-date=11 December 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071130165647/http://www.transformspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=news.view&newsid=8D34F05A-E7F7-11C1-74E37AB2DBDA99CC |archive-date=30 November 2007}}</ref>
| [[t/Space#CXV proposal|Crew Transfer Vehicle]]
| [[AirLaunch|QuickReach]]
| [[AirLaunch]]
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{dunno}}
| {{No}}
|-
| Constellation Services International<ref>{{Cite press release |title=NASA Signs Agreement with CSI |date=18 June 2007 |publisher=Constellation Services International, Inc. |url=http://www.constellationservices.com/csi%20release_cots%20saa_18jun07.pdf |access-date=11 December 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070728131705/http://www.constellationservices.com/csi%20release_cots%20saa_18jun07.pdf |archive-date=28 July 2007}}</ref>
| [[Progress spacecraft|Progress]]
| [[Soyuz (rocket family)|Soyuz]]
| [[RKK Energia]]
| {{dunno}}
| {{No}}
| {{dunno}}
| {{No}}
|-
| [[Lockheed Martin]]
| [[Automated Transfer Vehicle|ATV]] or [[H-II Transfer Vehicle|HTV]]
| [[Atlas V]]
| [[EADS Astrium]] or [[Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency|JAXA]]
| {{dunno}}
| {{No}}
| {{dunno}}
| {{No}}
|-
| [[Len Cormier|PanAero]]
| [[Len Cormier|Space Van]]
| [[Len Cormier|Space Van]]
|
| {{dunno}}
| {{No}}
| {{dunno}}
| {{No}}
|-
| [[Space Systems/Loral]]
| [[Space Systems/Loral#1300 series platform|Space Tug]]
| [[Aquarius (rocket)|Aquarius]]
| Constellation Services International<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Constellation Services International and Space Systems Loral Team on NASA COTS Proposal using a U.S. version off CSI’s LEO express cargo system |date=11 December 2007 |publisher=Constellation Services International, Inc. |url=http://www.constellationservices.com/Press_Release_20071211.pdf |access-date=11 December 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090226213850/http://www.constellationservices.com/Press_Release_20071211.pdf |archive-date=26 February 2009}}</ref>
| {{dunno}}
| {{No}}
| {{dunno}}
| {{No}}
|-
| Advent Launch Services<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Belfiore |first=Michael |date=2006-03-17 |title=Dispatches from the Final Frontier: Advent going for COTS |url=https://michaelbelfiore.blogspot.com/2006/03/advent-going-for-cots_114260903482804076.html |access-date=2024-06-21 |website=Dispatches from the Final Frontier}}</ref>
| {{dunno}}
| {{dunno}}
| 
| {{dunno}}
| {{No}}
| {{dunno}}
| {{No}}
|-
| Exploration Partners{{citation needed|date=March 2013}}
| {{dunno}}
| {{dunno}}
|
| {{dunno}}
| {{No}}
| {{dunno}}
| {{No}}
|-
| [[Odyssey Space Research]]{{citation needed|date=March 2013}}<!-- how do we know Odyssey submitted a COTS proposal to NASA? -->
| {{dunno}}
| {{dunno}}
|
| {{dunno}}
| {{No}}
| {{dunno}}
| {{No}}
|-
| Thortek Laboratories{{citation needed|date=March 2013}}
| {{dunno}}
| {{dunno}}
|
| {{dunno}}
| {{No}}
| {{dunno}}
| {{No}}
|-
| Triton Systems{{citation needed|date=March 2013}}
| {{dunno}}
| {{dunno}}
|
| {{dunno}}
| {{No}}
| {{dunno}}
| {{No}}
|-	
|}

== Demonstration flight tests ==
{{sticky header}}
{| class="wikitable sticky-header"
! Flight !! Date !! Description 
|-
| [[Dragon Spacecraft Qualification Unit|Falcon 9 Flight 1]] || {{Date|2010-06-04}} || Launch of [[Boilerplate (spaceflight)|boilerplate]] Dragon spacecraft to test Falcon 9 rocket
|-
| [[SpaceX COTS Demo Flight 1]] || {{Date|2010-12-08}} || Launch of Dragon spacecraft to test its orbital maneuvering and reentry
|-
| [[SpaceX COTS Demo Flight 2]] || {{Date|2012-05-22}} || CRS mission simulation including docking with ISS
|-
| [[Antares A-ONE]] || {{Date|2013-04-21}} || Launch of boilerplate Cygnus spacecraft to test Antares rocket
|-
| [[Cygnus Orb-D1|Orbital COTS Demo Flight 1]] || {{Date|2013-09-18}} || CRS mission simulation including docking with ISS
|}

== Commercial Resupply Services ==
{{Main|Commercial Resupply Services}}
On 22 December 2008, NASA stated they would discuss the contract selection to provide commercial cargo resupply services for the International Space Station.<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 December 2008 |title=NASA to Announce Space Station Resupply Services Contract |url=http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2008/dec/HQ_M08-267_ISS_resupply_call.html |publisher=NASA HQ}}</ref>  NASA announced the awarding of contracts to both [[SpaceX]] and [[Orbital Sciences Corporation]] in a press conference on 23 December 2008.<ref name="CRS_Award">[http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2008/dec/HQ_C08-069_ISS_Resupply.html "NASA Awards Space Station Commercial Resupply Services Contracts"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160715085914/http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2008/dec/HQ_C08-069_ISS_Resupply.html |date=15 July 2016 }}. NASA, 23 December 2008.</ref>  The contracts include a minimum of 20 missions, 12 missions for SpaceX ($1.6 Billion) and 8 missions for Orbital Sciences ($1.9 Billion).<ref>{{Cite web |title=NewSpace: The Emerging Commercial Space Industry |url=https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20140011156 |access-date=3 November 2022 |publisher=NASA.gov}}</ref><ref>Morring, Jr., Frank. [http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=space&id=news/Draggie122408.xml&headline=Space%20Station%20Resupply%20Contracts%20Awarded "Space Station Resupply Contracts Awarded"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322015237/http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=space&id=news%2FDraggie122408.xml&headline=Space%20Station%20Resupply%20Contracts%20Awarded |date=22 March 2012 }}. Aviation Week, 24 December 2008.</ref> PlanetSpace submitted a protest to the [[Government Accountability Office]] after receiving a NASA debriefing on the outcome of the award.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chris Bergin |date=15 January 2009 |title=Planetspace officially protest NASA's CRS selection |url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/01/planetspace-officially-protest-nasas-crs-selection/}}</ref> On 22 April 2009 GAO publicly released its decision to deny the protest.<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 April 2009 |title=B-401016; B-401016.2, PlanetSpace, Inc., April 22, 2009 |url=https://www.gao.gov/products/b-401016%2Cb-401016.2 |publisher=GAO}}</ref>

== See also ==
*[[Cargo spacecraft]]
*{{annotated link|Commercial Crew Development}}
*[[Commercial off-the-shelf]]
*[[Space Shuttle retirement#Current and future Space Shuttle successors|Space Shuttle successors]]
*{{annotated link|Commercial Lunar Payload Services}}
{{clear}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}

== External links ==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20160129035918/http://www.nasa.gov/commercial-orbital-transportation-services-cots/ NASA's COTS webpage]
*[http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/news/contracts/cots.html COTS Space Act Agreements]

{{NASA space program}}
{{ISS modules}}
{{SpaceX}}
{{Dragon spaceflights}}
{{Cygnus spaceflights}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2014}}

[[Category:Private spaceflight]]
[[Category:NASA programs]]