GoKawiilNASA weighs buying more Boeing Starliner flights as SpaceX eyes retiring Crew Dragon
NASA administrator Jared Isaacman said SpaceX intends to phase out its Falcon and Dragon systems as it focuses on Starship, prompting NASA to consider purchasing two additional crewed launches from Boeing's Starliner. NASA also announced it will spend $359 million to help Boeing rebuild the reaction control thrusters blamed for problems on Starliner's last mission.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
If SpaceX does retire Crew Dragon before Starship is ready, NASA could be left with few reliable options to reach the ISS, making Starliner's troubled history a bigger liability than before. The additional funding suggests NASA may feel compelled to prop up Boeing's program regardless of past failures, which could leave American crewed spaceflight dependent on a vehicle still struggling to prove itself.
- NASA may buy two more Starliner flights as a hedge against SpaceX phasing out Crew Dragon.
- NASA is committing $359 million to fix thruster issues that plagued Starliner's last crewed mission.
- SpaceX's shift toward Starship development could leave NASA with limited near-term crew transport options.
Source: futurism.com — Victor Tangermann, 2026-10-02
Published there as: “NASA Has Been So Thoroughly Screwed by Boeing’s Disastrous Starliner That It’s Now Throwing Its Entire Access to Space Into Question”
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