The next spaceflight for 2006 was one that provided a momentous occasion for both the United States and Europe. NASA was gearing up for the Space Shuttle fleet to take flight, Russia was part of the project with NASA contracts, and Elon Musk upgraded technology for US launches of a spaceflight. In 2005 there were a lot of uncertainties regarding spaceflight, especially for Europe and Russia’s new space program.
Spaceflight in 2006 required five launches to be planned in the first four months of the year. SpaceX’s Falcon 1 rocket failed on its first test in December 2005, but was able to launch in 2006. Other launches scheduled were the LEO rocket, Boeing’s Delta V, and Lockheed Martin’s Atlas IV rockets. For other spaceflight private contractors like ECA were set up to help.