COTS is NASA's Only Hope for Space Access

With the Shuttles retirement in 2010, NASA may be forced to rely on the Russians for access to the ISS. The Commercial Orbital Transportation Service may save their bacon, however. According to Elon Musk, founder of one of the COTS companies SpaceX , they may have a manned spacecraft capability by the end of 2011 if NASA exercises its option under a 2006 agreement to provide cargo service.

So private industry may provide the only option to buying Russian seats. Lets hope NASA makes the right choice when the time comes.