For NASA, Mr. Musk's partner, the goal is to validate development of private cargo vehicles and eventually, fleets of space taxis to take astronauts into orbit.
Plans are in the works for private companies to begin shipping cargo to the station, and eventually to carry astronauts as well.
Freight and cargo ships, cruise liners and private yachts have all come under attack.
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Plus, it would rather like the private sector to offer a cheaper way of delivering cargo to the International Space Station than the deal it gets from its current overfed contractors.
This marks the first successful cargo mission to the space station by a private company.
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Another good sign, cargo-handling is being transferred to the private sector in a sweeping reform of ports, a union stronghold.
We also reached a critically important milestone in May when SpaceX became the first private company to send a spacecraft -- the Dragon cargo capsule -- to the International Space Station and return it with cargo intact.
The Augustine report now makes it more likely the government will dispense with NASA's services entirely in low Earth orbit and ask private firms to deliver crew to the station, as well as cargo.
Even if NASA cannot be persuaded to trust its astronauts to the private sector, there is a compelling case that it should offer open tenders to deliver cargo to the space station.
One of a handful of private companies receiving funds from NASA to develop a space taxi system, SpaceX hopes the experience with the cargo flights will help the company reach its goal of carrying astronauts aboard the Dragon.
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