Inside Boeing's Decade-Long Struggle to Launch Astronauts on Starliner

Boston Brand Media brings you the latest news - Boeing's decade-long endeavor to launch astronauts on its Starliner spacecraft has been marred by challenges. From technical setbacks to funding issues, the journey has been fraught with obstacles. Despite setbacks, Boeing remains committed to its mission, underscoring the complexities inherent in space exploration and the rigorous standards required for crewed missions.

‍Boeing’s Starliner is a human-rated space capsule designed to ferry astronauts to and from the International Space Station (ISS). Development of the capsule began in 2014 when Boeing secured a $4.2 billion contract with NASA under the agency’s Commercial Crew Program. Concurrently, NASA also awarded SpaceX a $2.6 billion contract to develop its Crew Dragon capsule.

Caleb Henry, director of research at Quilty Space, noted that the Commercial Crew Program marked a significant shift for NASA, allowing the agency to delegate some responsibilities to the private sector. Prior to this, NASA largely relied on its own engineering talent for crewed missions to the ISS.

Despite Boeing's involvement in the program, the company has faced challenges in delivering on its contractual obligations. Of the nearly $5 billion Boeing has received for Starliner development, $1.5 billion has been spent on covering delays. Boeing recently conducted its final test, a crucial crewed mission milestone required for NASA certification before operational missions can commence.

In contrast, SpaceX has achieved notable success with its Crew Dragon capsule, completing over a dozen crewed missions since 2020, including launched for NASA astronauts and private citizens.

Boeing's journey with the Starliner project underscores the complexities and obstacles inherent in human spaceflight development. Watch the video to gain further insights into Boeing's challenges and the prospects for its long-awaited Starliner capsule.

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Source: CNBC