Boe had flew on STS-126 and STS-133.
Hurley served as a pilot on STS-127 and STS-135, which was the last space shuttle mission.
Hurley added: To be part of a new test program … is extremely exciting.
Further, NASA also approved funds, in the amount of $6.8 billion, towards this project.
Thus, the option of using Soyuz was not at all feasible and it was too expensive.
Besides, after the Ukraine crisis, relation between United States and Russia is getting deteriorated.
Further, the cost might be lowered in case the company is able to reuse its Falcon 9.
Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (Orion MPCV).
source: www.techworm.net