NASA has announced the extension of contracts with three key private companies—Northrop Grumman, Sierra Space, and SpaceX—to ensure the continued transport of cargo to and from the International Space Station (ISS) until the station’s anticipated retirement in 2030.
Cygnus cargo capsule prior to being grabbed by Canada arm. Credit: NASA
In a procurement filing dated November 8, NASA confirmed plans to extend its existing Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) 2 contracts, originally set to expire at the end of 2026, through 2030. The extension, which builds on contracts awarded in 2016, will allow NASA to maintain cargo transportation services to the ISS without interruption. NASA had previously announced in March 2023 its intent to extend the CRS-2 contracts, emphasizing that no other commercial vehicles currently meet the certified standards needed to support resupply missions to the station.
“There are no other CRS-2 certified visiting vehicles in the current marketplace for providing cargo resupply to the ISS,” NASA explained in its justification document, stating that extending the existing contracts is the most effective way to meet the ISS’s logistical needs as its mission continues.
As part of the March announcement, NASA invited other companies to propose solutions that might meet its cargo transport requirements. However, while three companies—Gravitics, The Exploration Company, and GEPA Logistics—responded, NASA determined that none met its needs.
Gravitics, a U.S.-based firm developing StarMax, a module intended for future commercial space stations, suggested it could deliver cargo to low Earth orbit with a next-generation launch vehicle. However, NASA noted that the proposal lacked specifics about an end-to-end ISS resupply capability.
The Exploration Company, a Munich-based European startup, proposed a spacecraft for cargo return. However, the company does not qualify as a “United States commercial provider,” a requirement under federal law, and its proposal did not meet certain CRS-2 export control requirements.
The third response came from GEPA Logistics, a British company specializing in terrestrial logistics services. NASA’s analysis noted that GEPA’s proposal did not demonstrate any experience in space transportation or the ability to meet the ISS’s orbital resupply demands.
Although these companies were not selected, one may still reach the ISS in the future. In May, the European Space Agency (ESA) awarded study contracts to The Exploration Company and Thales Alenia Space to support ESA’s own commercial cargo program, with plans for a demonstration mission to the ISS by 2028.
The CRS-2 contracts, collectively valued at up to $14 billion, remain within budget despite the extensions. NASA’s procurement databases indicate that it has allocated approximately $6.9 billion to date: $2.7 billion to Northrop Grumman, $1.4 billion to Sierra Space, and $2.8 billion to SpaceX. With this funding, NASA ensures that cargo resupply operations will support the ISS through its final years, providing crucial resources for the station’s research and operations until its decommissioning in 2030.
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