SpaceX will carry out an additional three post-certification missions for NASA to transport U.S. astronauts to and from the International Space Station under an approximately $900 million contract modification.
The agency said Tuesday its order for additional flights will bring the ceiling value of the Commercial Crew Transportation Capability contract previously awarded to Elon Musk’s company to $3.49 billion.
Hawthorne, California-based SpaceX completed a human transportation system certification process for the Dragon spacecraft, Falcon 9 rocket and associated ground equipment in November 2020 and the company has since carried out three of its four assigned missions to the orbiting laboratory.
In a notice posted on SAM.gov, NASA said the modification is necessary to ensure “redundant and back-up capabilities” for crewed flight operations as Boeing (NYSE: BA) is working to address technical issues with the CST-100 spacecraft.
Boeing and SpaceX won separate contracts valued at $4.2 billion and $2.6 billion in September 2014, respectively, to support the agency’s Commercial Crew Program.
