Boeing: Obstacles on the Way to the Stars

The space programs at Boeing have recently garnered attention more for delays and cost overruns than for successes. Although these programs constitute only a small portion of its business, Boeing's involvement in the space sector is historically significant. The Starliner, Boeing's space capsule, returned unmanned from the International Space Station (ISS) on Friday. Originally, the capsule had transported two astronauts to the ISS, but concerns regarding the functionality of its engines led to it returning without a crew. This setback raises the question of whether Boeing will be able to safely transport people to the space station again, especially as the ISS is expected to be decommissioned by 2030. In recent years, SpaceX has already successfully conducted seven manned missions, while Boeing has not completed a single one. Given this situation, and an additional deficit of 1.5 billion dollars, including 125 million in the first half of this year alone, the future of Boeing's manned space flight looks uncertain. Ron Epstein from Bank of America recently expressed doubts about whether Boeing would continue this line of business at all. At the same time, Boeing's troubles in the space sector do not bolster the overall strength of the U.S. space program, which relies on the support of multiple private companies. Boeing's long-standing ties to NASA are undisputed, but technological and financial challenges endanger this collaboration. Other players such as SpaceX and Blue Origin, founded by Amazon's Jeff Bezos, are increasingly pushing into this market and have already made significant progress. Additionally, problems in Boeing's other business units compound the issue. Confidence in Boeing's safety standards has been increasingly questioned since the two fatal crashes of the 737 Max and other incidents. Even though these events are directly unrelated to space activities, they could influence the company's image and resources. Not only Boeing but also its European competitor Airbus faces challenges. The company recently had to make a near-billion-dollar provision due to technical problems in its satellite program. NASA has also expressed concerns about Boeing's involvement in the Space Launch System, a central project for returning astronauts to the Moon. The flourishing commercial space industry creates intense competition for qualified professionals. Many talented young engineers now choose dynamic startups and companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin over the older industry giants. It remains to be seen how Boeing will tackle these multifaceted challenges and whether it can successfully continue its proud tradition in space exploration.