NASA has modified its commercial crew contract with SpaceX to add three more astronaut rotation missions to the International Space Station, the agency announced. The move extends the series of Crew Dragon flights that have carried NASA and partner crews to the orbiting laboratory since 2020.
According to NASA, the extra missions are intended to guarantee uninterrupted crew transportation for as long as the station remains in service. The agency plans to keep the ISS operating through 2030 before shifting to commercial destinations, and rotations roughly every six months require a steady supply of booked seats well in advance.
SpaceX remains the only U.S. provider currently certified for routine crew rotations. Boeing's Starliner, the second vehicle selected under the Commercial Crew Program, has yet to begin regular operational flights, leaving NASA to rely primarily on Dragon when filling out the station's crew manifest.
