Spacex Secures $950 Million for Additional NASA Crewed Missions

WHO:

CNBC - SpaceX, NASA, Elon Musk, Boeing, ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot, Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev, NASA astronauts Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway

WHAT:

CNBC - SpaceX has confirmed it will conduct Crew-15, Crew-16, and Crew-17 missions to the International Space Station under the new contract.

Teslarati - The contract modification locks in three of six potential additional missions, with the remaining three left open for NASA to award later.

Space - SpaceX will continue launching astronauts for NASA for at least another four years under a contract modification that runs through 2030.

Space - The new contract modification will take SpaceX through Crew-17.

CNBC - SpaceX has expanded its contract with NASA to conduct an additional three crewed Dragon flights to the International Space Station through 2030, netting up to $946 million upon completion.

Yahoo Finance - The deal extends SpaceX's crewed flights to the ISS through 2030.

CNBC - SpaceX has secured a $946 million contract from NASA for three additional crewed flights to the International Space Station (ISS).

Yahoo Finance - The contract raises the total value of SpaceX's deal with NASA to $5.92 billion.

Yahoo Finance - SpaceX's total number of NASA astronaut flights under the contract will reach 17.

WHERE:

CNBC - The Falcon 9 rocket was launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

WHEN:

Teslarati - NASA's Crew-13 is targeting a launch in the coming weeks, while Crew-15, Crew-16, and Crew-17 will follow through 2030.

Space - NASA and its international partners currently plan to retire the ISS in late 2030 or early 2031, with U.S. Congress pushing to extend operations through 2032.

CNBC - NASA's Crew 13 launch with SpaceX is expected in October, and Crew 14 is scheduled for next spring.

Yahoo Finance - Boeing's Starliner is expected to conduct crewed missions starting in the third quarter of 2027.

WHY:

Yahoo Finance - NASA is relying on SpaceX to maintain astronaut access to the ISS while also working to ensure a second U.S. option through Boeing.

Yahoo Finance - The contract aims to provide the United States with a regular domestic launch capability after the retirement of the space shuttle.

HOW:

Teslarati - SpaceX will provide ground, launch, in-orbit, and return operations, along with cargo transport and a lifeboat capability while docked at the ISS for the new missions.

CNBC - The contract includes ground, launch, in-orbit, and return and recovery operations, cargo transportation for each mission, and a lifeboat capability while docked to the International Space Station.

CNBC - The contract covers ground preparation, launch operations, in-orbit mission management, crew recovery, and cargo transportation for each mission.

Yahoo Finance - SpaceX will provide a lifeboat capability while docked to the ISS.

(UPDATED September 20, 2026 04:55 UTC)

SpaceX has confirmed it will conduct Crew-15, Crew-16, and Crew-17 missions to the International Space Station under a new contract, which locks in three of six potential additional missions. NASA's Crew-13 is targeting a launch in the coming weeks, with the subsequent missions scheduled to follow through 2030. For these missions, SpaceX will handle ground, launch, in-orbit, and return operations, as well as cargo transport and a lifeboat capability while docked at the ISS.

(UPDATED September 19, 2026 19:58 UTC)

SpaceX has secured a contract modification that will allow them to continue launching astronauts for NASA for at least another four years, extending through 2030 and covering missions up to Crew-17. Meanwhile, NASA and its international partners are currently planning to retire the International Space Station in late 2030 or early 2031, although there is a push from U.S. Congress to extend its operations through 2032. This ongoing collaboration highlights the significant role SpaceX plays in NASA's future missions.

(UPDATED September 19, 2026 08:57 UTC)

SpaceX has secured an expanded contract with NASA to conduct three additional crewed Dragon flights to the International Space Station, potentially earning up to $946 million by the time the missions are completed. This deal extends SpaceX's crewed flights to the ISS through 2030 and encompasses a range of operations, including ground, launch, in-orbit, and return and recovery tasks, along with cargo transportation for each mission. Additionally, the contract includes a lifeboat capability while docked to the International Space Station.

(UPDATED September 19, 2026 07:58 UTC)

SpaceX has secured a substantial $946 million contract from NASA for three additional crewed flights to the International Space Station, bringing the total value of their partnership to an impressive $5.92 billion and increasing the number of NASA astronaut flights to 17. The Falcon 9 rocket, which will be used for these missions, was launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, with NASA's Crew 13 launch expected in October and Crew 14 scheduled for next spring. This contract not only ensures regular domestic launch capabilities after the retirement of the space shuttle but also provides a lifeboat capability while docked to the ISS, as NASA continues to rely on SpaceX while working towards a second U.S. option through Boeing.