NASA expanded its Commercial Crew Transportation Capability (CCtCap) contract with SpaceX on 18 September 2026 through a 946 million modification. The revised agreement adds three more crewed Dragon flights, named Crew-15, Crew-16 and Crew-17, for missions to the International Space Station (ISS). The total value of SpaceX’s CCtCap contract has risen to about 5.92 billion, and the contract period runs through 2030.
Commercial Crew Transportation Capability
The Commercial Crew Transportation Capability is NASA’s programme for transporting astronauts to the ISS using private spacecraft. The programme uses two U.S. providers, SpaceX and Boeing, to maintain crew access to low-Earth orbit. SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft is the crew vehicle used under this contract.
SpaceX Mission Responsibilities
Under the CCtCap contract, SpaceX handles ground processing, launch operations, in-orbit operations, crew return, capsule recovery and cargo transport. The company also provides a lifeboat capability while the Dragon spacecraft is docked at the ISS. The expanded contract takes SpaceX’s total operational missions under CCtCap to 17 flights.
Boeing Starliner and ISS Crew Access
NASA issued a notice of intent in May 2026 to purchase additional crew missions under the same programme. Boeing’s Starliner is the second commercial crew spacecraft in the programme, and its crewed ISS flights are expected to begin in the third quarter of 2027. Boeing conducted a crewed test flight in 2024 that faced technical problems.
Important Facts for Exams
- The International Space Station is a low-Earth orbit laboratory jointly used by multiple space agencies.
- NASA’s Commercial Crew Programme uses private companies for astronaut transport to the ISS.
- SpaceX’s crew vehicle under the programme is the Dragon spacecraft.
- Boeing’s crew vehicle under the programme is the Starliner spacecraft.
Mission Timeline
SpaceX’s Crew-13 mission is scheduled for October 2026, and Crew-14 is targeted for spring 2027. The contract modification was valued at $946 million and was announced on 18 September 2026.
