NASA Has Been So Thoroughly Screwed by Boeing's Disastrous Starliner That It's Now Throwing Its Entire Access to Space Into Question

Key Points:

• Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft has faced significant setbacks, including costly delays, technical failures, and an aborted mission, preventing it from completing a crewed trip to the International Space Station (ISS) after more than a decade of development.
• With SpaceX planning to retire its Crew Dragon spacecraft in favor of the next-generation Starship, NASA is considering purchasing additional Starliner launches to maintain crew access to the ISS.
• NASA announced a $359 million bailout to help Boeing fix critical issues with the Starliner’s reaction control system thrusters and is working to certify the United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket for crewed missions.
• The next Starliner uncrewed test flight is planned for no earlier than December 2024, with a crewed mission targeted for 2028, as NASA seeks to validate improvements and complete certification.
• The ISS is scheduled for retirement by the end of the decade, creating uncertainty about future orbital access and the role Starliner and other private companies will play in developing new space habitats.