NASA just gave SpaceX more crew missions because Boeing can't certify

NASA filed a procurement notice to add six post-certification missions to SpaceX’s existing Commercial Crew Transportation Capability contract. NASA plans to order up to three missions immediately after adding them, with the remaining three available as needed through the end of the International Space Station’s planned operations in 2030. NASA cited shortened ISS mission durations, technical issues and schedule delays involving Boeing, mission allocation between Boeing and SpaceX, and ongoing challenges maintaining reliable crew transportation. Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner has not yet been certified for crewed flights, and a cargo-only Starliner mission was not included on the latest mission manifest. With Boeing sidelined, SpaceX is the only American provider able to rotate crews to the station. NASA originally awarded the contract in 2014 and later expanded it in 2022 for Crew-10 through Crew-14.

"NASA has filed a procurement notice announcing its intent to add six post-certification missions to SpaceX's existing Commercial Crew Transportation Capability contract. The agency said it would order up to three of those missions immediately upon adding them to the contract, with the remaining three available as needed through the end of the International Space Station's planned operations in 2030."

"NASA cited recently shortened ISS mission durations, technical issues and schedule delays encountered by Boeing, the allocation of missions between Boeing and SpaceX, and the ongoing technical challenges of maintaining a reliable crew transportation capability as the driving factors behind the decision. Boeing's CST-100 Starliner has still not been certified for crewed flights, and a cargo-only Starliner mission was not included on NASA's most recent mission manifest."

"With Boeing effectively sidelined for the foreseeable future, SpaceX is the only American company capable of rotating crews to the station. NASA originally awarded SpaceX its Commercial Crew contract in 2014 for $2.6 billion. In 2022 NASA modified the contract to add five missions covering Crew-10 through Crew-14, worth $1.436 billion, bringing the total contract value at that point to $4.9 billion."

"According to a report by SpaceNews, NASA stated in its filing: "It is necessary to award additional PCMs to SpaceX given the recently shortened ISS mission durations, technical issues and schedule delays encountered by Boeing, the allocation of missions between Boeing and SpaceX, NASA's projections for when an alternative crew transportation system may become avail""

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