NASA added $946 million for three more SpaceX crewed missions to the International Space Station, raising the contract to 17 flights worth $5.92 billion through 2030. NASA plans to retire the station around then, leaving post-ISS work uncertain.
NASA still wants Boeing’s Starliner restored as a second crew-transport option, while relying heavily on SpaceX. Starliner’s 2024 crewed test had serious problems: NASA returned the capsule without its astronauts, who came back aboard a SpaceX Dragon after a planned 10-day mission stretched beyond nine months. NASA has reportedly discussed assigning Starliner 10 or more future missions.
The article says replacing ISS crew-transport revenue would depend on NASA funding missions to commercial space stations or other low-Earth-orbit destinations. Delays in developing those destinations could leave a gap after the ISS retires.
