NASA confirmed on Monday that it will activate options to purchase two more missions using Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. The agreement also includes financial assistance to help the aerospace manufacturer restore the crewed vehicle to flight status and develop a new launch rocket once the current Atlas V vehicle is retired.
The decision reinforces earlier reports indicating that NASA plans to maintain continuous access to low-Earth orbit after SpaceX’s Crew Dragon fleet is decommissioned. During a press conference, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman noted that SpaceX intends to phase out legacy systems like the Falcon rocket and Dragon capsule as it focuses on its next-generation Starship program.
So NASA is betting the farm on one vendor after SpaceX leaves? That sounds risky for the future of ISS access.
Interesting that Boeing gets the only lifeline left. Hope Starliner doesn’t have more delays like before.