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In an unprecedented development within the commercial space sector, former US President Donald Trump has intervened in what he perceives as a critical space operations crisis, requesting Elon Musk’s SpaceX to orchestrate the return of two allegedly ‘stranded’ astronauts from the International Space Station (ISS), despite existing protocols and arrangements already in place.
The market implications of this political interference in established space operations protocols are significant, particularly considering the substantial investments made by both Boeing and SpaceX in their respective space programmes. The situation centres around NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who departed Earth in Boeing’s Starliner capsule last June for what was initially planned as a 10-day mission to the ISS.
Technical malfunctions, primarily related to thruster functionality, have resulted in an extended stay for the astronauts, with associated costs estimated at approximately $20 million per month. The spacecraft’s autonomous return without its human payload has raised questions about Boeing’s $4.3 billion NASA contract for the Commercial Crew Programme.
NASA’s position remains resolute, emphasising that the astronauts are not in a precarious situation akin to the fictional scenario portrayed in ‘The Martian’. The space agency maintains that their extended stay is a calculated operational decision to ensure proper staffing levels aboard the $150 billion space station.
The Biden administration’s existing arrangement with SpaceX demonstrates the robust contingency planning in place. SpaceX’s Crew-9 capsule is presently docked at the ISS, awaiting the arrival of Crew-10, which will facilitate the planned rotation of personnel. The market value of these missions represents a significant portion of SpaceX’s annual revenue, estimated at $2 billion.
Elon Musk’s social media response, criticising the Biden administration’s handling of the situation, has introduced additional market volatility to the commercial space sector, potentially affecting investor confidence in both SpaceX and Boeing’s space division.
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