Boeing Starliner's ISS Mission

• Two NASA astronauts, Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore, are on a mission to the International Space Station, potentially staying for over eight months due to issues with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft.
• NASA may use SpaceX to return the crew in February 2025 due to problems with Boeing's Starliner.
• Technical challenges have plagued the development of Boeing’s Starliner since 2019.

Starliner's Flight Issues

• During Starliner's June 5th flight, technical problems arose, including thruster failures during docking and helium leaks.
• Helium is used to pressurize the propulsion system, and several leaks were discovered during the flight.
• NASA has debated the risks Starliner poses to the astronauts, considering the uncertainty surrounding the spacecraft's reliability.

NASA's Response

• NASA considered using SpaceX to bring the astronauts back to Earth as early as August of 2024.
• NASA may delay Starliner's return to February 2025.

Starliner's Development History

• Starliner's development has faced delays for over a decade.
• Starliner was conceived after the end of NASA’s space shuttle program in 2011.
• NASA contracted Boeing and SpaceX to independently create spacecraft for astronaut transport to and from the Space Station.
• NASA wanted the two companies to provide redundancy.

Comparison with SpaceX

• SpaceX's Crew Dragon has completed nine missions for NASA, including a test flight.
• Boeing has only flown one mission which successfully sent astronauts to the ISS, but the return is uncertain.

Financial Implications for Boeing

• NASA used fixed price agreements with Boeing and SpaceX to incentivize good performance.
• Boeing has reported over $1.4 billion in charges or losses related to the Starliner program, raising questions about potential returns on investment.

Boeing's Historical Context

• Boeing's ties with NASA go back to the Apollo moon landings.
• Boeing initially anticipated being the first to transport astronauts to the ISS, but SpaceX achieved this milestone first.
• This situation signifies a potential shift in the space industry.