The Past, Present, and Future of Boeing in Space

Although the future of the legendary aviation company's space sector is up in the air, its legacy has long shaped travel beyond Earth.

Ben Evans

Thursday, November 28, 2024 at 02:00 PM ET

Verified

Edited By: tccjeremy

Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft as it approaches the International Space Station (ISS) on June 6. [Credit: NASA]

Key Takeaways:

Boeing is reportedly considering divesting its space business due to ongoing challenges, particularly significant delays and issues with its Starliner crew transport program, compounded by other aerospace sector problems.
Despite current setbacks, Boeing has a six-decade legacy of critical contributions to U.S. space exploration, including building the Saturn V's first stage for the Apollo program and the Lunar Roving Vehicle.
The company remains a key player in modern space, developing the core stage for NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) for Artemis missions, major components of the International Space Station (ISS), and advanced military spaceplanes like the X-37B.
A full or partial divestment would conclude Boeing's profound and continuous impact on America's space endeavors, spanning from historic moon landings to future deep-space missions.

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In October, The Wall Street Journal reported that Boeing may shed its space business to focus on commercial aircraft and defense systems. This could be due in part to this summer’s test flight of its Starliner crew transport to the International Space Station (ISS), which adversely reshaped public opinion of the beleaguered aerospace titan.

But despite some of its bad publicity, Boeing’s six decades in space have helped to facilitate a permanent off-planet U.S. presence and enabled our first footsteps on the moon.