The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has awarded aircraft manufacturer Boeing and space transport services company Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, or SpaceX, billions worth of contracts to build space taxis that will launch astronauts and even tourists in space.  

The U.S. space agency revealed on Monday that it will work with Boeing and SpaceX to develop, certify and fly separate space taxis that would ferry seven crew members or cargo to and from the International Space Station (ISS).

American astronauts had to rely on Russian spacecraft to reach and leave the ISS since NASA stopped using the space shuttle fleet three years ago. The cost per seat is at $71 million and at least four NASA astronauts ride a Russian Soyuz each year. The American space agency's $6.8 billion contracts with Boeing and SpaceX to build and operate the commercially owned space taxis will mark the end of the U.S. dependence on Russians to ferry astronauts to and from its space station in low Earth orbit.  

"The Obama administration has made it very clear that the greatest nation on earth should not be dependent on any other nation for getting into space," said NASA Administrator Charles Bolden.

California-based SpaceX, which was awarded $2.6 billion worth of contract, will transport astronauts using the Dragon V2 capsule, which the company described as one of the most reliable and safest spacecraft that will ever be flown.  Boeing, which was awarded $4.2 billion in contract, on the other hand, will use the CST-100 capsules which feature tablet technology and wireless internet. Both spacecraft were designed to accommodate seven crewmembers.

Kathy Leuders, NASA's manager for Commercial Crew program said that the contracts awarded to SpaceX and Boeing have the same requirements and that both companies should be ready for commercial flight services by 2017.

Since the companies also retain the ownership of their vehicles, it also allows them to sell rides to customers who do not work at NASA, which means that private tourists who can afford the ride will soon be able to travel in space.

"The work that we have underway ... is making the possibility for everyone to someday see our planet Earth from space," said Kennedy Space Center director Bob Cabana. "I know a lot of us are cheering on the success of our Commercial Crew program, not because of what it means to NASA ... but what it means to human spaceflight for everyone."