How Much Does an ISS Resupply Mission Cost?
Short answer: NASA buys station cargo by the mission under Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contracts. Its inspector general found that the first contracts paid SpaceX an average of $152.1 million per mission over 20 missions and Orbital ATK (now Northrop Grumman) $262.6 million over 11, about $63,200 per kilogram of cargo capability, and projected $71,800 per kilogram for the second-round CRS-2 contracts (2018 report). That is many times the $3,250/kg a full dedicated Falcon 9 works out to, because the spacecraft, not the rocket, is most of the cost.
List and rideshare prices as of 2026-10-11. Figures track the launch cost guide; contract prices vary.
Price by option
| Option | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| SpaceX Cargo Dragon (CRS-1 average) | $152.1M per mission | 20 missions, $3.04B in total (NASA OIG, 2018). Dragon returns cargo to Earth; launches on Falcon 9 |
| Orbital ATK Cygnus (CRS-1 average) | $262.6M per mission | 11 missions, $2.89B in total. Cygnus burns up with station trash; it flew on Antares and, from NG-20 in January 2024, on Falcon 9 |
| CRS-2, NASA's initial estimate | $300.6M per mission | 21 missions for $6.31B, about $71,800 per kilogram (2016 estimate reported by the OIG) |
| JAXA HTV-X | Government programme | Japan's in-kind ISS contribution; HTV-X1 launched on an H3 on October 26, 2025 (JST) |
| Sierra Space Dream Chaser | No ISS flights ordered | NASA's September 2025 contract change dropped the seven required cargo flights; a free-flyer demonstration that does not visit the ISS is targeted for late 2026 |
The costs that are not on the price list
- Late-load cargo, cold-stowage science and time-critical biology drive the schedule and the price.
- Return capability (Dragon) matters to researchers; disposal-only vehicles carry trash down.
- NASA plans to retire the ISS in 2030, which is why commercial stations are courting the same cargo providers now.
Frequently asked
How much cargo does one mission carry?
NASA's CRS-2 planning figures, as the inspector general reported them, were 3,754 kg of upmass per Cygnus mission and 3,307 kg per Dragon mission. Crew supplies, spare parts and science compete for the manifest.
Why is it so much more per kilogram than a commercial launch?
The launch is only part of the bill. A pressurized, docking, life-support-compatible spacecraft that NASA certifies for operations at a crewed station costs far more than the rocket under it.
Run your own numbers
Mass, orbit, vehicle, insurance: the calculator does the delivered-cost math.
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Sources
Every figure on this page comes from one of these. Prices change; dates show when each was published or read.
- NASA OIG audit of Commercial Resupply Services (IG-18-016): CRS averages, cost per kilogram, NASA Falcon 9 average launch cost (NASA Office of Inspector General, 2018-04-26)
- HTV-X1 launched aboard H3 on October 26, 2025 (JST) (JAXA, 2025-10-26)
- Dream Chaser: seven-flight requirement dropped, free-flyer demo late 2026 (SpacePolicyOnline, 2025-09-25)
- Cygnus NG-20, the first Cygnus on Falcon 9 (January 30, 2024) (NASASpaceFlight, 2024-01-30)
- NASA selects SpaceX to deorbit the ISS when its mission ends in 2030 (Astronomy, 2024-06-28)
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