NASA awards SpaceX three crew flights under $946m modification

NASA has awarded SpaceX a $946 million contract modification for three additional International Space Station crew rotations: Crew-15, Crew-16 and Crew-17. In its September 18 notice, the agency said the firm fixed-price modification extends the performance period through 2030 and brings its planned Commercial Crew Transportation Capability missions with SpaceX to 17.

NASA said the amount covers ground, launch, in-orbit, return and recovery operations, cargo transportation for each flight and a lifeboat capability while a spacecraft is docked to the station. The agency listed mission readiness dates in 2027 and 2028, but did not announce launch dates, crews or the order in which the three future rotations would fly.

Space.com independently reported the award on September 19, confirming the $946 million value and saying the modification brings SpaceX's CCtCap contract value to $5.92 billion. The new award is a procurement decision for planned transport services, not evidence that any of the three missions has launched.

NASA awarded CCtCap contracts to SpaceX and Boeing in 2014, and SpaceX was certified for crew transportation in November 2020. NASA's September 18 update does not identify further contract modifications or operational details beyond the three added missions.