NASA has issued a procurement announcement indicating its intention to add six certified manned missions for SpaceX under the existing Commercial Crew Transportation Capability contract. The agency stated that upon activation of the contract amendment, up to three of these missions will be confirmed immediately, with the remaining three scheduled based on operational needs until the planned decommissioning of the ISS in 2030.

The rationale for this expansion is clearly outlined. NASA cited several key factors influencing the decision: recent reductions in ISS mission durations, technical issues and delays faced by Boeing, mission allocation arrangements between the two companies, and ongoing technical challenges in maintaining reliable manned transportation capabilities. Boeing's CST-100 Starliner spacecraft has yet to receive certification for manned flights, and NASA's latest mission schedule does not include cargo missions for this vehicle.

According to the documents, NASA explained: "Considering the shortened ISS mission durations, Boeing's technical problems and schedule delays, current mission distribution between the two providers, estimated timelines for alternative manned transportation systems, and technical challenges in sustaining space station crew transportation capabilities, it is necessary to authorize additional certified manned missions for SpaceX."

The contract value for these six additional missions has not been publicly disclosed. Based on the 2022 standard rate of approximately $287 million per mission, the total value of this contract expansion could approach $1.7 billion.