NASA adds three SpaceX missions to its crew contract
NASA has modified its Commercial Crew Transportation Capability contract to add three SpaceX missions—Crew-15, Crew-16 and Crew-17—under a firm fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity modification. The $946 million package covers ground, launch, in-orbit, return and recovery operations, cargo transportation for each mission, and lifeboat capability while docked. NASA says the change helps maintain access to the International Space Station with two commercial crew partners and brings SpaceX's total missions under the program to 17.
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The package is continuity infrastructure: it pays for the ground, launch, return and recovery work as well as the flight.
The docked spacecraft also provides a lifeboat capability, so its role continues after the crew arrives.