NASA Just Gave SpaceX 3 More Dragon Flights — And Proved Why Its System Is So Hard to Replace

NASA Just Gave SpaceX 3 More Dragon Flights — And Proved Why Its System Is So Hard to Replace
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0:00 intro
0:25 Starliner's humiliation
6:16 If Starship Replaces
9:51 Blue Origin Capsule
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NASA Just Gave SpaceX 3 More Dragon Flights — And Proved Why Its System Is So Hard to Replace
What a shame!
Just days ago, multiple reports suggested that NASA was looking to award a new contract to Boeing’s Starliner before SpaceX ended Dragon. But after Shotwell’s remarks, the agency totally changed everything.
NASA chose SpaceX’s Dragon for three additional ISS missions worth nearly $1 billion.
Is NASA trying to hold on to Dragon after losing all hope in Starliner?
What Now?
NASA Just Gave SpaceX 3 More Dragon Flights — And Proved Why Its System Is So Hard to Replace
“Um, and there is another provider, right? Boeing has been paid, I think probably more than we have been paid to develop their human capsule.
So, we're just going to let them have some business. They should fly their capsule. The government paid a lot of money for that. They should be able to use it.
I sense a little spiciness in the answer here.”
During the “All-In” podcast, SpaceX President and COO Gwynne Shotwell made this blunt statement while talking about one of the company’s rivals, Boeing and its Starliner spacecraft.
So, was that a subtle jab at Boeing?
Haha! It certainly sounds like there was at least a little sarcasm in there. Shotwell’s comment almost comes across like this: “You paid them more money than you paid us to develop their spacecraft, yet somehow we're the ones doing more of the work. Maybe it’s finally time to let them actually use the thing.”
And that is what makes the situation so ironic.
NASA has invested heavily in Starliner, but even now, the spacecraft is still struggling to establish itself as a reliable second option for NASA’s crewed missions. Sadly, after years of development and billions of dollars in funding, Boeing still has not managed to consistently demonstrate that its spacecraft can carry astronauts to the ISS and bring them home safely.
Meanwhile, Crew Dragon has continued successfully carrying out crewed missions into space.
NASA Just Gave SpaceX 3 More Dragon Flights — And Proved Why Its System Is So Hard to ReplaceNASA Just Gave SpaceX 3 More Dragon Flights — And Proved Why Its System Is So Hard to Replace
But eventually, even this “minivan” will have to stop running.
As we already know, SpaceX has long been publicly confirming its intention to eventually wind down the Dragon program. That is a remarkable shift, especially considering that Dragon only began carrying astronauts into space six years ago. But in exchange, the company is now looking toward something much bigger: Starship.
Dragon is heading toward retirement, while Starship is still under development. In that situation, it seemed that NASA had little choice but to turn to Starliner, even though the spacecraft itself remained far from stable.
And that is exactly why NASA’s upcoming contract had previously been rumored to go to Boeing’s Starliner. However, just days after Shotwell made that statement, everything changed.

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