Elon Musk Calls for Fully Reusable Rockets and Spacecraft, As Boeing Scrubs Starliner Launch
"The world doesn't need another capsule," the tech billionaire said in a post on X.com. "What matters is fully reusable rockets and spacecraft," he added.
New Delhi, May 7: SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on Tuesday called the need for fully reusable rockets & spacecraft, and not another capsule, even as rival Boeing's much-awaited Starliner yet again scrubbed its crewed mission. "The world doesn't need another capsule," the tech billionaire said in a post on X.com. "What matters is fully reusable rockets and spacecraft," he added.
His comments come as Boeing on Friday scrubbed the Starliner manned mission, which was expected to launch NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Indian-Origin Sunita Williams to the space station. But it was stalled just two hours before the launch after facing an issue with a valve in the rocket's upper stage. Elon Musk Shares Photo of His ‘Great Meeting’ With Javier Milei, Says ‘I Recommend Investing in Argentina’.
Both Boeing and SpaceX signed a contract with NASA's Commercial Crew Programme to fly operational missions to and from the space station with Starliner in 2014. While SpaceX's Dragon capsules have been launching astronauts to space on its Falcon 9 rockets since 2020, Boeing is yet to make a mark.
"Although Boeing got $4.2 billion to develop an astronaut capsule and SpaceX only got $2.6 billion, SpaceX finished 4 years sooner. Musk also noted the difference between the designs of crew capsule Dragon 1 and 2. "Too many non-technical managers at Boeing," he said. Elon Musk Invites Warren Buffett To Invest in Tesla Which Is Facing Global Slowdown in EV Sales.
Meanwhile, Boeing, the world's largest aerospace company is facing a controversy over the mysterious deaths of whistleblowers. "How do they even get any work done with so many whistles being blown!?" said Musk in reply to a user who cited that the company has "too many whistleblowers." "Boeing should rebrand to a whistle manufacturer," Musk said. Both Boeing’s Starliner and SpaceX’s Dragon are aimed at carrying astronauts and cargo for NASA missions to low Earth orbit, and beyond.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 07, 2024 11:01 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).