NASA Bets Big on Troubled Starliner to Replace Successful Crew Dragon
NASA is counting on Boeing's Starliner to replace SpaceX's Crew Dragon in just a few years, despite the latter's successful track record. The space agency has awarded a $946 million contract to SpaceX to fly three more crewed ISS missions with Crew Dragon, but this will not change the company's plan to retire the spacecraft by 2030.
SpaceX President and CEO Gwynne Shotwell said that the company is willing to let Boeing 'have some business' with Starliner. The agency needs a reliable replacement for Crew Dragon as it plans to retire in just a few years, and Starliner is currently the most viable option.
The contract modification has given NASA some time, but the agency appears committed to getting Starliner crew-certified. Boeing's total financial losses from the Starliner program topped $2 billion in 2025, and NASA has spent significantly more on the development and certification of this vehicle than Crew Dragon.