Faced with a difficult decision
With Dragon’s likely retirement by 2030 or earlier, NASA was faced with a difficult decision. As it considers a future in low Earth orbit, the space agency plans to extend the life of the International Space Station until 2032. It also supports the development of private space stations, called CLDs (commercial LEO destinations). The space agency needed a way to get its astronauts there.
Starliner, for all its faults so far, was obviously the better option. Some critics have suggested that NASA should fund a second crew competition that would include Boeing, Blue Origin with its “space vehicle” under development and potentially others like The Exploration Company.
But Isaacman seemed reluctant to make such an investment, which would likely cost billions. During the press conference, he noted that NASA’s future demand for astronaut flights to low Earth orbit will be two seats every six to nine months. The country has already invested heavily in Boeing’s efforts, and with Starliner close to being ready, it would be foolish to waste the country’s considerable investment, NASA officials said.
Boeing, for its part, appears energized by the opportunity to claim the role of national provider of access to low Earth orbit for American astronauts.
“We are extremely excited about this partnership with NASA,” said John Mulholland, vice president and Commercial Crew program manager at Boeing. “To continue to fly to the International Space Station, and then obviously, with Vulcan certification, missions beyond the six that we currently have. We’ve certainly talked with all the CLD providers about becoming their preferred transportation provider in the future.”
Will Boeing compete with… Boeing?
Of course, all of this requires Boeing to follow through, which it has yet to do. Another major concern for NASA and private space station operators is cost. Boeing, for a time at least, will likely have a monopoly on crew transportation after Dragon exits the market.
For the Starliner-2 through Starliner-6 missions, NASA and Boeing agreed on a price of around $90 million per seat. However, this summer, as Boeing negotiated with CLD suppliers, the company would not commit to seat prices into the 2030s.
“We have not been able to provide detailed pricing to CLD suppliers because the Vulcan rocket has not been certified, and the spacecraft has not been certified, and we do not have detailed pricing for the Vulcan,” Mulholland said. “That will come in the future and we obviously want to be as competitive as possible.”
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