Today, NASA announced 12 additional cargo flight missions to the International Space Station (ISS) under the Commercial Resupply Services-2 contract.
NASA will divide the 12 additional cargo flights evenly between Northrop Grumman and SpaceX, with six each. These cargo flights will ensure the ISS is resupplied through 2026.
NASA finalized the Commercial Resupply Services-2 contract back in 2016. It ensures continuous cargo and science delivery for NASA and its international partners to the ISS.
The contract guaranteed a minimum of six cargo resupply missions to SpaceX, Orbital ATK (Northrop Grumman) and the Sierra Nevada Corporation (now Sierra Space).
However, since the three parties won the contract, NASA has twice added more missions.
Back in October 2020, NASA added five more missions, three to SpaceX and two to Northrop Grumman. While the second addition was today.
These additions bring the total number of missions under the contract to 35.
SpaceX has 15 of them, Northrop Grumman has 14 and Sierra Space has six.
So far, Northrop Grumman has completed six of its missions, while SpaceX has completed four. Sierra Space has yet to complete a flight under the contract.
The next planned launch under the contract will be in May 2022, with SpaceX CRS-25. Northrop Grumman will next launch in August 2022, with Cygnus NG-18.
Note
NASA’s press release notes that there are now 32 missions ordered under the contract, with three going to Sierra Space. However, Sierra Space is guaranteed at least six missions as per the original Commercial Resupply Services-2 contract. We have updated the numbers accordingly.
