LISTEN LIVE: NASA still deciding whether 2 Starliner astronauts will stay at ISS until 2025
PBS NewsHourJUL 2024
NASA is facing a serious crisis with the Boeing Starliner, a spacecraft plagued by numerous malfunctions. Combined with SpaceX's recent Falcon 9 failures, it has badly dented NASA's reputation. With limited alternatives and no quick fixes in sight, NASA must navigate a precarious situation that could jeopardize its long-term access to low Earth orbit.
NASA Starliner crisis is not as dire as it is made out to be. The astronauts are safe abord ISS, with ample supplies and work to do. NASA has backup plans, including using SpaceX’s Dragon for their return, if necessary. While Starliner’s issues are concerning, NASA’s dual-provider strategy ensures that missions can continue, even with setbacks.
There is a 50% chance NASA's SLS will first launch a person to the Moon by September 2028, according to the Metaculus prediction community.