Hello everyone! If there’s one thing we’ve learned recently, it’s that space isn’t just the final frontier—it’s also a high-stakes battleground for some of the biggest names in aerospace. In a move that’s nothing short of a slap in the face for Boeing, NASA has tapped Elon Musk’s SpaceX to come to the rescue of two astronauts stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) after Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft failed to bring them back home.
Now, let’s set the scene. Commander Barry ‘Butch’ Wilmore and pilot Sunita ‘Suni’ Williams, both seasoned veterans, were sent to the ISS aboard Boeing’s Starliner in early June. What was supposed to be a weeklong test flight turned into a months-long ordeal after their spacecraft experienced a series of technical failures, including thruster issues and helium leaks. With their return delayed until next year, these two pilots will end up spending a whopping eight months in space.
Their names are Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore and they have been on Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft since May 6th. Their mission was supposed to last 8 days. pic.twitter.com/eM9E9KmZb0
— Lex (@lex6m) August 24, 2024
Meanwhile, SpaceX, which has been stealing the show in the commercial space race, will be handling their rescue. A SpaceX capsule is scheduled for a routine taxi flight to the ISS in late September, where it will pick up the stranded astronauts. This decision is a huge blow to Boeing, a company that once dominated the aerospace industry but has been plagued by a series of technical and financial setbacks.
SpaceX Will Rescue Starliner’s Astronauts
Boeing employees are “humiliated” after NASA announced that two astronauts who have been stranded on the International Space Station by the company’s troubled Starliner space capsule will have to be rescued by Elon Musk’s upstart rival… pic.twitter.com/fWnSyS7S0S
— TheRealCherokeeOwl (@RealCherokeeOwl) August 26, 2024
The Starliner’s failure is just the latest in a string of embarrassing mishaps for Boeing. The company has been under fire for a series of problems, from the crashes of its 737 MAX aircraft to manufacturing delays and design flaws in other models. The Starliner’s troubles only add to the growing list of issues that have tarnished Boeing’s once-stellar reputation.
NASA, for its part, is standing by its decision to delay the astronauts’ return, citing safety as the top priority. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and Jim Free, the agency’s associate administrator, both emphasized that this was a tough but necessary call. They reassured the public that the Starliner will fly again, but that’s cold comfort for Boeing, which now has to watch SpaceX swoop in and do the job it was supposed to do.
NASA announced Saturday it would bring home astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita Williams on a SpaceX Crew Dragon in February due to lingering concerns with the Boeing Starliner that they traveled in in June. https://t.co/HHyxPGiMao pic.twitter.com/vHw7Nel5pb
— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) August 25, 2024
As for the astronauts, they’ve taken the delay in stride, focusing on their work aboard the ISS and expressing confidence in the ongoing tests. But make no mistake, this is a major setback for Boeing and a clear signal that in the race for space dominance, SpaceX is pulling ahead while Boeing struggles to keep up.
