SpaceX plans to retire Crew Dragon

SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell confirmed the company intends to wind down the Crew Dragon program by 2030 to focus on Starship and Starlink satellites.

“We're not retiring it today, for sure.”

NASA needs a backup crew vehicle

Crew Dragon is currently NASA's only operational spacecraft for routine astronaut missions to low-Earth orbit, so the agency must secure an alternative before 2030.

NASA orders two more Starliner missions

NASA will announce it is ordering two additional crewed Starliner missions from Boeing and will help pay to fix the spacecraft's thruster problems.

Starliner has a troubled history

Boeing's Starliner experienced thruster failures during its first crewed test flight in June 2024, nearly causing the loss of two astronauts who had to return on Crew Dragon instead.

NASA shared blame for the mishap

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said the space agency's own decision-making failures contributed to the near-disaster, not just Boeing's hardware defects.

“It is decision-making and leadership that, if left unchecked, could create a culture incompatible with human spaceflight.”

Boeing has spent billions on Starliner

NASA paid Boeing 5.1 billion dollars for Starliner development, compared to 3.1 billion for SpaceX's Crew Dragon, yet Boeing has taken over 2 billion in charges due to ongoing problems.

Atlas V rocket is running out of fuel

The Atlas V rocket that launches Starliner uses Russian engines and is nearing retirement, with only six remaining vehicles available for Starliner missions.

NASA will fund a new launch vehicle

NASA will help pay to certify Starliner on a new rocket, likely either United Launch Alliance's Vulcan or Blue Origin's New Glenn.

SpaceX fulfilled its obligations

Although NASA funded Crew Dragon's development, SpaceX has contractually completed its obligations and can retire the vehicle whenever it chooses.

Private space stations need crew transport

Companies building private space stations for the post-ISS era were unable to secure crew transportation commitments from either SpaceX or Boeing, creating a crisis.

Blue Origin has a backup option

Blue Origin has been developing a crewed Space Vehicle for its New Glenn rocket, with advanced design work and testing already underway.

New Glenn could certify faster

If Boeing flies Starliner on New Glenn, it would give Blue Origin free certification of its rocket for human missions, a costly and time-consuming process normally.

New Glenn offers cost advantages

New Glenn's greater power could launch both a crewed spacecraft and cargo vehicle simultaneously, potentially saving launch costs for private space station operators.