All articles tagged with #crew dragon
NASA awarded SpaceX $946 million under the Commercial Crew Transportation Capability contract to fly three additional crewed missions to the International Space Station, extending SpaceX's total CCtCap missions to 17 and bringing the program's value to $5.92 billion through 2030; Boeing's Starliner remains behind schedule, and NASA plans to retire the ISS around 2030–2031 while pursuing commercial low-Earth-orbit stations.
NASA awarded SpaceX a $946 million extension to fly three more astronaut missions to the International Space Station, bringing SpaceX’s total NASA flights to 17 and the contract value to $5.92 billion, through 2030. SpaceX remains the primary US provider for crew transport to the ISS, with Boeing as a back-up option, and the contract covers all mission phases—from ground processing and launch to in-space operations, return, and emergency escape, including carrying supplies.
NASA plans to order two additional Boeing Starliner crewed missions, help fund propulsion fixes, and back certifying a new launch vehicle so Starliner can stay in the mix as SpaceX winds down Crew Dragon, ensuring US access to low-Earth orbit and shaping competition for future crewed launches.
SpaceX says its Crew Dragon fleet has significant life left as it transitions toward Starship; with Crew-13 Grace set for an ISS flight no earlier than Sept. 12, NASA plans additional Dragon missions and ESA/private operators are eyeing Dragon for ISS and future commercial stations, while Starship is expected to overlap in service and push the industry toward end-to-end commercial offerings.
Industry officials warn that Crew Dragon’s long-term availability is uncertain as SpaceX shifts focus to Starship, risking a supply gap for private space stations, with Boeing’s Starliner unreliable and new entrants like The Exploration Company’s Nyx eyeing crewed missions—potentially driving up costs and complicating NASA’s commercial-crew plans.
NASA astronauts and international crew members safely returned to Earth after a five-month mission to the International Space Station, landing in the Pacific Ocean aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon Endurance, marking a shift from previous Florida landings to ensure safety from debris.
A SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule successfully docked with the International Space Station, delivering four crew members from the US, Russia, and Japan, who joined the existing crew for a mission that could be extended from six to eight months amid NASA budget considerations.
NASA is launching Crew 11 to the ISS aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon Endeavour, including crew members who were previously bumped due to issues with Boeing's Starliner, marking a record sixth flight for Endeavour and highlighting ongoing plans to extend crew missions and reduce costs.
SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule 'Endeavour' has been moved to the hangar at Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, preparing for the July 31, 2025 launch of the Crew-11 mission to the International Space Station, carrying four astronauts for a six-month stay.
A mesmerizing video from the International Space Station (ISS) shows SpaceX's Crew Dragon Freedom docked against the backdrop of the Milky Way, which fades as sunlight reflects off the spacecraft. The ISS, orbiting Earth at 260 miles altitude, experiences 16 sunrises and sunsets daily. Crew Dragon Freedom, part of SpaceX's Crew-9 mission, arrived at the ISS on September 29, carrying NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov. The spacecraft was relocated to allow a view of the Milky Way, highlighting the captivating nature of space exploration.
SpaceX's Crew-9 astronauts successfully relocated their Crew Dragon spacecraft, Freedom, to a new docking port on the International Space Station to accommodate an incoming cargo ship. The crew includes two astronauts originally assigned to Boeing's Starliner, which faced propulsion issues. The relocation was completed on November 3, 2024, ahead of a scheduled cargo launch on November 4. The Crew-9 team will return to Earth in February 2025.
Four long-duration crew members aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon undocked from the International Space Station and are set to splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico early Tuesday, concluding a 199-day mission. The crew, including NASA commander Jasmin Moghbeli, European Space Agency astronaut Andreas Mogensen, Japanese flier Satoshi Furukawa, and Russian cosmonaut Konstantin Borisov, completed 3,184 orbits and traveled 84.4 million miles during their mission, conducting research and a spacewalk. They will be replaced by Crew 8, while Soyuz crewmates Oleg Kononenko, Nikolai Chub, and NASA's Loral O'Hara remain on the station.
SpaceX is set to launch the Starlink 6-43 mission from Cape Canaveral and prepare for the undocking of Crew Dragon Endurance from the International Space Station. The mission will add 23 Starlink satellites to the low Earth orbit constellation, with the first stage booster making its 11th flight. Additionally, SpaceX is working with NASA to return the Crew-7 mission astronauts and cosmonaut from the ISS, with undocking scheduled for Monday and splashdown anticipated for Tuesday.
NASA and SpaceX are considering extending the lifespan of the Crew Dragon spacecraft from five to 15 flights, following the successful missions of Crew Dragon vehicles. The "fleet leader," Endeavour, has already completed five flights, and NASA and SpaceX are conducting qualification tests to potentially allow for more flights. The decision will depend on the performance of individual components, with a focus on crew safety, and analysis of the spacecraft's exposure to the space environment.
NASA and SpaceX are considering extending the lifespan of the Crew Dragon spacecraft from five to 15 flights, with the possibility of achieving this through a requalification campaign. The decision will depend on tests conducted by SpaceX on individual components to ensure safety and reliability. The primary structures of the capsule remain original, while smaller components have been continually replaced and upgraded. The focus remains on crew safety, and the analysis of spacecraft components will determine the potential for extending the number of flights.