NASA needs a backup plan to maintain its presence in the United States at the space station, according to Watchdog: NPR

International Space Station (ISS), computer illustrations.

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International Space Station (ISS), computer drawing.

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A government oversight body wants NASA to develop an emergency plan to bring American astronauts to the International Space Station.

The recommendation is one of the key points to remember in a 47-page report from the Government Accountability Office on what is called the Commercial Crew Program.

Since the space shuttle retired in 2011, NASA was carrying American astronauts aboard its Soyuz capsule to the space station. The Associated Press says that the United States has paid Moscow up to $ 82 million worth of seats for travel into orbit. The GAO notes that the contract with Russia is expected to be completed by the end of 2019.

As part of the Commercial Crew program, NASA chose SpaceX and Boeing to develop the next generation of crew capsules to replace the shuttle. The two companies compete to know which will be the first private company to launch American astronauts into space.

The GAO report acknowledges that SpaceX and Boeing have is making progress in the development of their transportation systems "the two contractors have further delayed the certification stage in early 2019." The companies had first had to prove to NASA that their spacecraft would meet the requirements of the agency for manned space flight by 2017.

The report warns that "without contingency option viable to ensure uninterrupted access to the ISS in the event of delays in the commercial crew, we concluded that NASA may not be able to maximize the return of its investment of several billions of dollars in the space station. "

He says NASA is considering options. And in a statement, NASA's chief human exploration officer, William Gerstenmaier, says that the agency is actively working on options to keep Americans alive and working, uninterrupted, at the station.