Inside the Commercial Space Race: SpaceX vs Boeing

Image Credit: SpaceX

 Since 2010, NASA has been looking for private launch companies to take over the task of transporting crews to the International Space Station from U.S. soil - a task that has been facilitated by the Russian space program since the end of the U.S. Space Shuttle program in 2011. 2018 may in fact be the year that this dream finally comes true.
 NASA announced last week in a public announcement that it expects SpaceX to conduct a crewed test flight slated for December, after an uncrewed flight in August. On the other hand, word from Boeing indicates that a crewed flight is planned for November following an uncrewed flight in August. This is unprecedented because until recently, SpaceX's accelerated timetable made it appear that they would be the first to reach the finish line.
 These upcoming test flights could determine the fate of both these companies' space aspirations. Whichever company achieves that honour may also claim a symbolic U.S. flag stuck to a hatch aboard the space station. However, beyond these bragging rights, whoever delivers astronauts to the I.S.S. first will not only make history, but will also claim an advantage over future sales of manned space launches - and this could include passengers beyond NASA.

For more interesting content concerning the commercial space race, be sure to visit Popular Mechanics and Fortune.com