Listeners, here’s what’s unfolded over the past few days in Boeing’s Starliner program and its broader space efforts.

Early July has seen the spotlight return to Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, but not for the smooth operational milestone originally envisioned. According to coverage from the Associated Press and MENAFN, after what began as a routine crewed demo to the International Space Station, Starliner faced a cascade of technical and operational issues. Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, originally scheduled for a brief mission, ended up stranded aboard the ISS for nearly nine months due to a series of propulsion system failures that caused multiple delays to their return. NASA ultimately decided to integrate them into the regular crew rotation, further extending their mission well beyond the planned schedule.

While the astronauts’ safety remained the top priority, NASA officials have publicly acknowledged their struggles with Starliner’s propulsion unit. According to discussions highlighted by SpacePolicyOnline, there is now serious consideration of flying only cargo, and not crew, on Starliner’s next mission to the ISS. This is being weighed in the context of NASA’s own budgetary pressures and ongoing restructuring—a result of the recent passage of the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill” in Congress, which earmarks $10 billion for NASA, but also signals cost-cutting and reduced crewed operations on NASA’s horizon.

Despite Starliner’s turbulence, Boeing’s presence in American space strategy remains significant on other fronts. SpacePolicyOnline and the Tech Journal have reported that Congress has authorized a $1 billion boost for the mysterious, reusable X-37B spaceplane, which was originally developed by Boeing. The X-37B just wrapped its seventh record-setting mission earlier this year, staying in orbit for 434 days and pushing advanced techniques like aerobraking for future reusable spacecraft. This move underscores Boeing’s crucial, albeit quiet, role in national security space programs even as it scrambles to resolve commercial crew program issues.

Simultaneously, Boeing continues to push boundaries in military aerospace. Leeham News has learned that Boeing is considering increasing production of its 787 Dreamliner to a record 16 per month, gearing up for higher demand in commercial aviation. Meanwhile, the Air and Space Forces Magazine reveals that Boeing’s modular pylon system for the B-1 bomber could allow dramatic increases in payload capacity, opening new potential for hypersonic testing and weapons delivery—a project partially enabled by recent funding increases.

Taken together, the past week paints a picture of a company with divergent fortunes: Starliner’s ongoing technical and operational hurdles contrast starkly with Boeing’s expanding defense, commercial, and classified aerospace programs. The scrutiny on Starliner by NASA and the possible transition to a cargo-only role signals both caution and a reset for Boeing’s commercial crew ambitions. At the same time, winning major Pentagon contracts and continued innovation in both military and classified vehicles ensure Boeing’s influence and future in U.S. space operations are secure, even as its historic promise of routine human spaceflight faces its toughest challenges in years.

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