NASA Expands Contract with SpaceX for ISS Crew Flights

NASA has expanded its contract with SpaceX to fly more crews to the International Space Station. The agency awarded the company an additional $946 million contract, bringing the total value of the deal to $5.92 billion. This will cover three new astronaut missions to the station through 2030.

The contract includes preparing astronauts and spacecraft on the ground, launching them, operating the mission in space, and recovering the capsule. It also includes carrying supplies and keeping the spacecraft at the station as an emergency escape vehicle.

NASA chose SpaceX and Boeing in 2014 to develop spacecraft capable of carrying astronauts to the space station. The goal was to give the United States a regular domestic launch capability after NASA retired the space shuttle.