Marcia Dunn

AP Aerospace Writer

Expanding Opportunities for Minority and Women-Owned Businesses

Expanding Opportunities for Minority and Women-Owned Businesses

The Export-Import Bank of the United States offers a number of tools to assist all U.S. manufacturers, and works to ensure that these opportunities are readily available to businesses owned by minorities and women. Watch video to learn more.

In this June 2, 2021 photo made available by NASA, technicians prepare Boeing's CST-100 Starliner for the company's Orbital Flight Test-2 (OFT-2) in the Commercial Crew and Cargo Processing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. On Friday, Aug. 13, 2021, Boeing and NASA officials said the capsule is grounded for months and possibly even until next year because of a vexing valve problem.

Boeing Astronaut Capsule Grounded by Valve Issue

Boeing's performance is in stark contrast to that of SpaceX, NASA's other contracted taxi service.

This undated photo made available by Blue Origin shows the interior of the crew capsule. When Blue Origin launches people into space for the first time, Bezos will be on board. No test pilots or flight engineers for the Tuesday, July 20, 2021 debut flight from West Texas - just Bezos, his brother, an 82-year-old aviation pioneer and a teenager.

How Blue Origin's Jeff Bezos Will Soar into Space

The capsule is entirely automated: No test pilots or flight engineers.

In this Monday, Oct. 28, 2019 file photo, Richard Branson, right, founder of Virgin Galactic, and company executives gather for photos outside the New York Stock Exchange before his company's IPO. In an interview after the Wednesday, June 30, 2021 satellite launch by his separate company Virgin Orbit, Branson said that he has to be “so circumspect” in what he says about Virgin Galactic. “All I can say is when the engineers tell me that I can go to space, I’m ready, fit and healthy to go. So we’ll see,” he said.

Richard Branson Mum on When He'll Go to Space

The billionaire behind Virgin Galactic has said it's “very important” for potential customers to first see him strap in for a ride.

In this image from video made available by Virgin Orbit, the surface of the Earth, left, is seen from the company's LauncherOne rocket during a mission to deliver satellites from three countries into space on Wednesday, June 30, 2021.

Virgin Galactic Launches 7 Satellites from 747

The company’s modified 747 jet took off from California’s Mojave Desert, carrying a 70-foot rocket beneath its left wing.

In this image from video made available by SpaceX, a Starship test vehicle sits on the ground after returning from a flight test in Boca Chica, Texas on Wednesday, May 5, 2021

SpaceX Launches, Lands Starship in 1st Successful Flight

The previous four tests flights ended in fiery explosions.

SpaceX Crew 2 members, from left, European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Pesquet, NASA astronauts Megan McArthur and Shane Kimbrough and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Akihiko Hoshide gather at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Friday, April 16, 2021 to prepare for a mission to the International Space Station. The launch is targeted for April 22.

SpaceX to Build Lunar Lander

The craft will eventually put the first woman and person of color on the moon.

This combination of photos provided by Axiom Space in January 2021 shows, from left, Larry Connor, Michael Lopez-Alegria, Mark Pathy and Eytan Stibbe. On Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021, Axiom announced they will be the first private space station crew, a year ahead of the planned launch.

3 Men Paying $55M Each to Fly to Space Station

The first crew will spend eight days at the space station.

Astronaut Soichi Noguchi, of Japan, from left, NASA Astronauts Shannon Walker, Victor Glover and Michael Hopkins walk after arriving at Kennedy Space Center, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020, in Cape Canaveral, Fla.

Astronauts Arrive at Launch Site for 2nd SpaceX Crew Flight

For NASA, it marks the long-awaited start of regular crew rotations at the International Space Station.

In this image from video made available by Blue Origin, the New Shepard rocket lifts off from its launchpad in Texas, to test new lunar-landing technology for NASA that could help put astronauts back on the moon by 2024.

NASA Moon-Landing Tech Hitches Ride to Space on Bezos Rocket

The 10-minute flight tested new technology that could help put astronauts back on the moon.

Northrup Grumman's Antares rocket lifts off the launch pad at the NASA Wallops test flight facility, Friday, Oct. 2, 2020, in Wallops Island, Va. The rocket will deliver supplies to the International Space Station.

Radish Seeds, Meats and Cheeses Launched to Space Station

Among the delicacies requested by the astronauts: proscuitto, Genoa salami, smoked Gouda and provolone.

The SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour spacecraft is lifted onto the SpaceX GO Navigator recovery ship shortly after it landed with NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley onboard in the Gulf of Mexico.

SpaceX Capsule, NASA Crew Make 1st Splashdown in 45 Years

The astronauts' ride back to Earth was fast, bumpy and hot — at least on the outside.