NASA and other organizations continue to reach for the stars
NASA is currently planning to build a permanent base on the moon. Like the International Space Station, this site will serve as a place for people to study the effects of space. In the future, it could also serve as a jumping-off point for space travel to other worlds in our solar system.
The Sierra Nevada Corporation is developing the Dream Chaser, a multi-mission space utility vehicle designed to transport crew and cargo to the International Space Station. Boeing and NanoRacks are partnering to design a new airlock for the International Space Station that will triple the number of small satellites that can be deployed during a single airlock cycle.
Despite its harsh climate, the planet Mars is the next step for human exploration. In February 2018, SpaceX tested their Falcon Heavy rocket by using it to launch a Tesla Roadster carrying a mannequin named Starman to space. Testing the Falcon Heavy will help SpaceX develop its next stage of rocket, the Big Falcon Rocket, for Mars exploration.
