Boeing's recent decision to bring back its Starliner spacecraft empty has raised eyebrows, especially since the company will need to rely on its competitor, SpaceX, to bring the test flight astronauts home. However, NASA has clarified that this situation was part of the plan all along under the Commercial Crew Program.
Back in 2014, both Boeing and SpaceX were awarded contracts by NASA to develop spacecraft capable of replacing the retired space shuttle. The idea was to have two separate and fully functional vehicles to ensure redundancy in case one encountered technical issues or other challenges.
Ken Bowersox, associate administrator for NASA's Space Operations Mission Directorate, emphasized the importance of having multiple options available. He explained that having both the SpaceX Dragon and Boeing Starliner in operation provides flexibility in case one vehicle needs to bring back astronauts from another spacecraft.
Despite the strategic reasoning behind the Commercial Crew Program, Boeing's Starliner mission has faced setbacks. While SpaceX's Crew Dragon has been operational for four years, the Starliner program has experienced delays and cost overruns.
It's worth noting that NASA provided funding to both companies simultaneously a decade ago, with SpaceX receiving $2.6 billion and Boeing $4.2 billion. The contrasting progress of the two programs highlights the challenges Boeing has faced in bringing its spacecraft to operational status.
In conclusion, while the current situation may not be ideal for Boeing, the overarching goal of having multiple spacecraft options for crewed missions remains a key priority for NASA. The Commercial Crew Program underscores the importance of redundancy and flexibility in human spaceflight operations.
