article_snippet: A pair of docking ports will fly up later this year, followed by new crew capsules commissioned by Nasa, with astronauts aboard, in 2017.
article_snippet: Even more spacewalks will be needed once new docking ports start arriving in June.
article_snippet: To save money and stop being so reliant on the Russian Space Agency, Nasa has hired Boeing and SpaceX to develop spacecraft capable of transporting astronauts to the International Space Station.
article_snippet: The two contracts are worth nearly $7 billion.
article_snippet: SpaceX already is delivering cargo under a separate agreement with Nasa.
highlights_snippet: Work was needed to build new crew capsules commissioned by NASA .