Final answer:
SpaceX is the private company hired to send crew and supplies to the ISS. Their reusable Falcon rockets and Crew Dragon spacecraft have been essential for reliable transportation for astronauts since the retirement of the Space Shuttle program.
Step-by-step explanation:
The private company that has been hired to send crew and supplies to the International Space Station (ISS) is SpaceX. SpaceX, headquartered in Hawthorne, California, has played a crucial role in space exploration efforts by providing commercial crew and cargo services to the ISS. Their involvement illustrates the trend of private sector participation in space endeavors, which was traditionally dominated by government agencies like NASA.
SpaceX's innovation and cost-effective launch systems have revolutionized access to space, demonstrated by their reusable Falcon rockets and the Crew Dragon spacecraft. They have provided reliable transportation for astronauts to and from the ISS, marking a significant milestone for both NASA and the fledgling commercial spaceflight industry.
Apart from SpaceX, NASA also relied on the Russian Soyuz spacecraft for crew transportation to the ISS, especially in the period after the Space Shuttle program was retired and before the Commercial Crew Program became operational. The collaborative efforts in maintaining the ISS, including various forms of international cooperation, highlight the importance and impact of partnerships in advancing space exploration.