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This article makes it sound like this project is the only chance for the US to launch manned spaceflights again. Clearly, the Dragon capsule has a much better chance of doing this before the SLS. I wonder if Space X is simply not very well known.

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Not for the US, but for NASA in particular. They haven't been able to send anyone themselves since the Space Shuttle, and they sorely need more capabilities in that area. It's mostly notable for its deep-space focus, directly intending to use the rocket to go to mars.

But I don't understand what NASA gains by buying bespoke hardware instead of simply buying a Dragon launch. It seems weird - a very expensive case of "Not Invented Here".

This is particularly true given Elon Musk's publicly announced ambitions for beyond-LEO missions using the Falcon stack, and his demonstrated ability to execute on his ambitions.

I assume they want to be independent of external companies. Nobody else is seriously developing capabilities to lift >100 tons in orbit at the moment, considering the only other craft ever capable of that was the Energia. If nobody else does it, better do it yourself.

Time for Space-X to hire lobbyists, I guess.

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