Rocketplane Kistler and Orbital Sciences Corp. have formed a partnership to compete in NASA’s Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program and develop other applications for Rocketplane’s space transportation system.

Under the agreement, Orbital will be responsible for project management, systems integration, launch operations and safety and mission assurance and also will invest in Rocketplane, whose K-1 vehicle is one of six finalists in the COTS competition. The program is intended to develop a vehicle that will provide transportation and cargo services to the International Space Station beginning as early as 2009.