NASA is also studying a vehicle that could transport astronauts back and forth between the station and Earth.

For decades, NASA has used a fleet of Airstream motorhomes to transport astronauts to the launch pad.

Falcon 9 will also be human-rated for transporting astronauts under NASA's CCDev program.

From 1961 to 1972, the Apollo Program's mission was to transport astronauts safely to the moon and then return them to Earth.

The extra port was for the Soyuz craft that transports Soviet astronauts to and from the station.

The move will keep on track the agency's plan for U.S. companies to transport astronauts into space and ultimately will end outsourcing the work to foreign governments.

Apollo spacecraft were used for transporting astronauts to and from the Skylab.

The Astrovan was used to transport astronauts from the crew quarters in the Operations and Checkout Building to the launch pad on launch day.

It was also used to transport astronauts back again from the Crew Transport Vehicle at the Shuttle Landing Facility.

Thermal Blankets Loosened The problem centers on the Soyuz craft, which transports Soviet astronauts to and from the 100-foot-long Mir station.