NASA has a Dragon dilemma, and there appear to be no good answers
Summary
NASA has aimed to build a private space economy around low-Earth orbit for 20 years, using companies like SpaceX to deliver cargo and astronauts to the International Space Station. However, SpaceX plans to stop flying its Crew Dragon spacecraft after 2030 to focus on its Starship rocket and Starlink internet business, causing uncertainty about the future of human space activities in low-Earth orbit.Key Facts
- NASA has spent two decades encouraging private companies to develop spacecraft for low-Earth orbit missions.
- SpaceX’s Crew Dragon has flown 13 missions for NASA and will continue supporting the ISS until 2030.
- After 2030, SpaceX plans to retire Crew Dragon and stop flying astronauts to low-Earth orbit.
- NASA invested $3.1 billion in developing Crew Dragon but can no longer require SpaceX to keep flying it.
- SpaceX now earns most revenue from Starlink, its satellite internet service, not NASA contracts.
- The company plans to focus on launching its own payloads with the new Starship rocket.
- SpaceX is not currently interested in developing Starship for human flights to Earth orbit.
- NASA and private station developers face challenges planning space missions without SpaceX’s Crew Dragon flights.
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