- Elon Musk compared SpaceX and Boeing’s progress in developing astronaut capsules.
- Despite receiving more funding, Boeing’s Starliner project lagged behind SpaceX by 4 years.
- Boeing faced another delay with the Starliner launch due to technical issues.
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, took a jab at Boeing on X, highlighting the discrepancy in progress between the two aerospace giants. Musk pointed out that despite receiving $4.2 billion from NASA for developing an astronaut capsule, Boeing fell behind SpaceX, which received $2.6 billion, by finishing their project four years later. He attributed Boeing’s slower progress to having “too many non-technical managers.”
Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft encountered yet another setback as its launch got delayed due to a technical problem with a valve. This delay adds to a series of setbacks for the Starliner project, impacting NASA’s plans for crewed missions to the International Space Station. Meanwhile, SpaceX has been successfully sending astronauts to the space station since 2020 with its Crew Dragon capsule.
Boeing now faces the challenge of regaining credibility in the aerospace industry, especially following issues with its airplanes. Despite investing over $1.5 billion more than anticipated in the Starliner project, the company continues to grapple with delays and technical hurdles, highlighting the competitive landscape in space exploration.
