Update: The bulk of the contract, $4.2 billion, was awarded to Boeing, with a $2.6 billion portion going to SpaceX. The contracts include certification and development and a maximum of six missions.
NASA has scheduled a “major announcement” for 1 p.m. Pacific today to “regarding the return of human spaceflight launches to the United States,” and a report by the Wall Street Journal says the space agency is expected to award Boeing the primary contract to fly astronauts to the International Space Station.
SpaceX, the venture led by Elon Musk that has already been ferrying supplies to the ISS, is expected to receive a portion of the contract, according to CNN.
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin commercial space venture has joined in the Boeing bid, according to another report by the Wall Street Journal. Blue Origin’s involvement in the bid furthers the rivalry with SpaceX, which includes a patent dispute between the companies over the landing of booster rockets at sea.
The news conference will be available to view online at 1 p.m. Pacific on NASA TV.
