NASA has awarded SpaceX a contract modification for three additional missions to continue regular crew transportation to the International Space Station.
Under the agency’s Commercial Crew Transportation Capability contract, this significant change brings the total awarded missions for SpaceX to 17 and helps NASA ensure continuous access to the space station using two distinct private spaceflight companies.
The utility of this modification across all three missions and related services is $946 million. The amount specifically includes ground, launch, in-orbit and return recovery operations, as well as cargo transportation for each mission and a lifeboat capability while arriving at the International Space Station.
The award follows an advance notice of intent to purchase the additional missions. Meanwhile, the current source modification does not rule out NASA from seeking future contract modifications for additional transportation services. The Crew-12 mission is currently in orbit docked to the space station; moreover missions using SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket transport up to four astronauts along with the crucial cargo to the space station.
Ruqia Shahid is a reporter specialising in science, focusing on discoveries, research developments, and technological advancements. She translates complex scientific concepts into clear, engaging stories, helping readers understand the latest innovations and their real-world impact through accurate, accessible, and insight-driven reporting.
