NASA is reportedly now developing alternative strategies to evacuate two astronauts who traveled to the International Space Station aboard the new Boeing Starliner spacecraft, as there are reservations regarding the vehicle’s fitness for flight.
After NASA acknowledged significant issues with the capsule, the journey was originally intended to last only eight days.
However, it may now extend to as many as eight months. The event was the craft’s inaugural crewed flight.
NASA is contemplating the possibility of reserving seats for Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams on a SpaceX flight scheduled for February 2025, according to agency officials on Wednesday.
Boeing’s new CEO, Robert Ortberg, has inherited a number of issues, including the Starliner, which was plagued by numerous delays and cost billions.
Boeing’s credibility with NASA, its client since the Apollo moon missions, has been diminished as a result of its issues with the starliner, which have now allowed SpaceX to take the lead in the industry.
Boeing recently disclosed a $125 million loss associated with the Starliner program during its quarterly earnings report for the three months ending in June.
[READ MORE: Famous Finance Wizard Predicts Doom for California]