NASA is taking a big step towards returning astronauts to the International Space Station launching from the Kennedy Space Center. The space agency just released a new proposal hoping commercial companies can start sending humans to the ISS by 2017.

Wednesday marks 15 years for the International Space Station. The first module for the space station was launched into orbit on Nov. 20, 1998.

Since then, the ISS has led the way in scientific discoveries from advancements in robotic surgery to improving clean drinking water.

NASA has relied on Russia to get to the ISS since the space shuttle fleet retired in 2011.

On Tuesday, NASA announced that it’s hoping it can send astronauts on U.S. built commercial ships starting in 2017. The space agency is requesting commercial companies submit proposals for funding in the final phase of a program to get Americans back into space from Brevard County.

The program requires commercial companies demonstrate how their spacecraft can safely send humans to and from the ISS. It will even require test pilots to go the space station before sending NASA astronauts there.

NASA hopes to award one or more contracts by next September, but it all depends on funding on Congress though.