Boeing and SpaceX have both been awarded contracts to send astronauts back to the International Space Station, NASA officials announced Tuesday.

SpaceX, Boeing and Sierra Nevada were all in the running to transport astronauts from the Space Coast.

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said Tuesday that he couldn't be happier.

"Today's announcement sets the stage for what promises to be the most ambitious and exciting chapter in the history of NASA and human spaceflight," Bolden said.

SpaceX's Dragon V2 and Boeing's CST-100 will be the vehicles used to carry astronauts into space. The total potential contract value is $6.8 billion over the initial contract period, Bolden said.

Boeing's contract award was $4.2 billion, and SpaceX's contract was $2.6 billion.

The missions will launch from the Kennedy Space Center.

The agreement will end NASA's reliance on the Russia. Missions are expected to take place by 2017 depending on Congress funding NASA in its budget, Bolden said.

Boeing and Sierra Nevada both have agreements to work on their spacecraft at Kennedy Space Center. Meanwhile, SpaceX has launch facilities at both KSC and the nearby Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

"The partnerships with Boeing and SpaceX promise to give more people in America — and around the world — the opportunity to experience the wonder and exhilaration of spaceflight," Bolden said.

Ultimately, Bolden said, NASA's goal is to reach Mars.

"The reason I went out to Mars and started there is because that is where we are going," he said. "The (United States) is going to Mars.

Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., speaking on CNN on Tuesday, said the new vehicles will be much safer for astronauts. The announcement will also bring jobs back to the Space Coast, Nelson said.