So sad to see Starliner still having so many problems. As wonderful it is to see SpaceX providing such a reliable taxi service it's a pity having them still be the only viable option in the commercial space
this post was submitted on 05 Jun 2023
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I'm hoping that Dragon 2's growing flight history helps reduce risks and the need for dissimilar redundancy, but I'll still be happier once both are in service. Two providers would be helpful just from a commercial standpoint now that ISS Crew, Axiom, Polaris, and Vast crew missions are all manifested.
I agree, the main concerns are commercial ones. Dragon has already proven itself to be an incredibly reliable vehicle, both from a safety perspective, and a mission availability perspective. But in the future it would be great to have a second company able to provide a similar product.
Boeing unfortunately still has the Old Space type legacy which seems to hold them back in a way New Space companies aren't. Perhaps some day Relativity, Firefly or Rocket Lab can step into the LEO taxi role.
On the startup side, I would also love to see Stoke make a crewed variant down the line.
Is there any way for Boeing to remediate the flammable harness wraps without disassembling Starliner?
I'm just speculating, but that was my worry, too. I wonder if they would try to go for a waiver for this flight, maybe with some remediation like a nitrogen purge or just a plan to vent the capsule.
its a shame, I wish Boeing the best, we need more competition in space.