NASA has awarded SpaceX a $946 million contract modification for three additional astronaut missions to the International Space Station, bringing the company’s total contracted NASA crew flights to 17.

The agreement covers the Crew-15, Crew-16 and Crew-17 missions and extends the period of performance through 2030. The $946 million includes launch, ground operations, in-orbit support, astronaut return and recovery, cargo transportation and an emergency lifeboat capability while the spacecraft is docked at the station.

The new award increases the total value of NASA’s Commercial Crew Transportation Capability contract with SpaceX to $5.92 billion. NASA originally awarded commercial crew contracts to SpaceX and Boeing in 2014 as part of an effort to develop U.S.-based astronaut transportation capabilities following the retirement of the Space Shuttle.

The missions will use SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket. Dragon can transport up to four astronauts along with cargo to the station. SpaceX received NASA certification for crew transportation in 2020 and has since conducted 12 crew rotation missions for the agency.

NASA said the additional missions will help maintain regular crew transportation to the station while preserving access through two commercial crew providers. The agency is currently preparing for SpaceX’s Crew-13 mission, which is targeted for launch in early October.