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NASA announces Boeing Starliner crew will return on SpaceX Crew-9 (twitter.com)

578 points by ripjaygn · 715 days ago · 730 comments on HN

Article summary

NASA has decided that astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will return to Earth on SpaceX's Crew-9 spacecraft in February, rather than on the Boeing Starliner spacecraft they were originally scheduled to use. The Starliner will return to Earth uncrewed, allowing NASA and Boeing to continue gathering testing data on the spacecraft. The decision was made after a test flight readiness review. The astronauts will continue to contribute to research on the International Space Station before their return.

Main themes

  • NASA's Boeing Starliner program
  • SpaceX Crew-9
  • Astronaut safety
  • Spacecraft testing
  • US space industry

What commenters say

  • Boeing's issues with the Starliner program are a result of poor management and a lack of accountability, and the company needs to be restructured or nationalized to ensure the safety of astronauts and the success of the program.
  • The US space industry is too reliant on a few large companies, including Boeing, and this can lead to a lack of competition and innovation, as well as safety risks.
  • The decision to return the astronauts on SpaceX's Crew-9 is a pragmatic one, given the issues with the Starliner, but it also highlights the need for a reliable and safe US spacecraft capable of carrying astronauts to and from the International Space Station.
  • Breaking up Boeing into smaller companies or placing it under government control could help to address the company's issues, but it could also lead to unintended consequences, such as reduced competitiveness and increased vulnerability to foreign acquisition.
  • The current leadership of Boeing is to blame for the company's problems, and removing them and replacing them with new leadership could help to turn the company around and ensure the success of the Starliner program.
  • The US government's relationship with Boeing is too cozy, and the company is not subject to sufficient oversight or accountability, which can lead to safety risks and other problems.