SpaceX was awarded $267K on July 15 for "Special Study for Emergency Response."
A similar contract was awarded when NASA considered Frank Rubio on Dragon.
During the July 10th press conference, Steve Stich, program manager for NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, mentioned NASA had looked at Dragon contingency per Butch and Suni waiting for Starliner to be cleared for return, so this may be related.
And we have a NASA response for context:
"The study is not related to Starliner. NASA continuously explores a wide range of contingency options with our partners to ensure crew safety aboard the International Space Station.
Over the past couple of years, the agency has worked with its commercial partner SpaceX to provide additional return capability on the Dragon spacecraft in the event of a contingency."
“additional return capability on the Dragon spacecraft in the event of a contingency”. Like for stranded astronauts?
But sure, this emergency 1 month long contract has nothing to do with the currently stranded Starliner 🙄
Is this US Govt BS month or something and I missed the announcement?