NASA's Crew Mission and the Future of Space Exploration

Boeing and SpaceX are working with NASA to prioritize human safety and make decisions based on safety and performance data for upcoming crew missions.

### NASA's Backup Plan for Astronaut Return and China's Satellite Constellation Ambitions
* 🚀  NASA is preparing a backup plan for the return of two astronauts currently on the International Space Station, with a crew mission scheduled for **September** and a potential return in **February 2025**.
* 🛰️  The backup plan is crucial due to **global geopolitical uncertainties**, and having this option is considered a **significant advantage**.
* 👩‍🚀  Both Boeing and SpaceX prioritize **human safety** in their space missions, with NASA overseeing and authorizing decisions as the **ultimate responsible party**.
* 🔧  NASA is currently analyzing data from recent thruster tests to determine the best return option, either with **Boeing's Starliner** or **SpaceX's Crew Dragon**.
* 💼  Boeing's Starliner project has faced **cost overruns and delays**, and rebuilding public confidence in the program is a **key challenge**.
* 🇨🇳  China's satellite constellation ambitions, similar to SpaceX's Starlink, are also a topic of discussion in the industry.
* 🛰️  The presence of SpaceX's Starlink constellation has helped the US better prepare for **potential competition from Chinese satellite constellations**, addressing issues like **radio astronomy, orbital debris, and space sustainability**.
* 🌌  Despite this preparation, the competitive landscape in space remains dynamic, and **ongoing vigilance and planning are necessary**.

The extension of that plan is that there
is a crew mission going up in September. We've space X, and there may be the two
astronauts currently on. It could hitch a ride back February of
2025, which seems a really long time away.
Just your reaction to where we are right now that a backup plan is needed.
You know, the great thing about this backup plan is that we have it because
if we didn't, then I think that there would be when especially when you look
at the global geopolitical environment. I think that we would have a much harder
time. We didn't have this option.
So it's great that we have this option. I think that's the first and most
important thing. And it's important that America has two
options to very human safely to space. What I do see also is massive Boeing and
SpaceX X prioritizing human safety first, as they should.
So that's equally important.

There is reporting out there about NASA
officials or teams within NASA's sort of not being 100% aligned on what the best
plan was to do. As best you can, just help our audience
understand how NASA's works. You know, now in this era of space, we
have commercial partners, you know, leading the activity.
But NASA's still has a central role. Absolutely.
Well, the astronauts are now the employees.
They are NASA astronauts. And these companies have contracts with
NASA. So NASA has a responsibility to review
and authorize decisions because at the end of the day, the buck stops with
them. And so if you step back a few weeks ago,
there was a test that was consulted. And what there are about 26 of the 27
jets that were fired. And the goal was to ensure that these
thrusters were working properly and were meeting performance requirements.
And now the team is going back and analyzing that data.
So there are two reasons.

But that can really go either way. One could say, well, you know, we've analyzed the data and we think that this Boeing aircraft can come back with the astronauts or without the astronauts. And then there is another reasoning, which is that. Space X is really the way to go. So either way, what you see within the agency is that there there are people and this is good when you have disagreement and now they have a bit more time given the space mission that's going up in September to analyze the data further. And then they will make a decision based on the performance of the thrusters, the performance of this helium leak that they are monitoring. And they will make a call mid-August based on all the information they have available. And they will obviously make a decision that includes the prioritizes human safety first, that prioritizes a safe landing. And yes, that also builds confidence in

in the system.
Well, that's what I want to ask about as an eight, because we just showed the
chart of Boeing spending on the Starliner Project, and it's been well
reported, the cost overruns, the delays. How to your mind, to Nasser and Boeing
as partners now go back out and bring public confidence in the program going
forward when it works.
And that's what that's the point. We're trying to get to a point where it
will work, and there is confidence that's built in the system so that it can vary
humans, and then the public will have confidence in the system. But we have
to get it to work first. And which is why the analysis of these
firing tests that were conducted recently have to be completed, but that
Nasser will not will not make a decision until they have conducted a
thorough analysis and believe now that the data provided news them in one
direction or another.

As an aide, also a senior fellow at the
Harvard Belfer Center. The other big piece of talk right now in
the industry is China and its satellite constellation ambitions.
Might they do something similar to StarLink?
And if they were, too, how does that work?
The competition for space, the proximity of a US-Russian constellation to a
Chinese constellation. Your thoughts on that, isn't it?
You know what is great about this question. And the scenario is that we are
already living it before the space X constellation went up.
We had smaller constellations, but we still had constellations in space.
And then a mega constellation was put up by a US commercial company which gave us
the leverage to understand and to plan for what it would look like if a
strategic competitor, in this case, a nation like China, put up constellations
of their own. So through the constellation that we
have up there put up by Space X, we have

been able to have discussions and even remediations to radio astronomy issues to night sky issues based on what the satellites can see, or what they prevent us from seeing from here on earth. We have had conversations about orbital debris, which is, you know, the amount of junk that is locked in space. Now, we've had conversations about space sustainability and figure it out policy and engineering solutions to all of these issues. And so I think that we are actually in a better place as the United States to prepare the best we can for this constellation, because we have an example up there today. If we didn't, then I think we would be in a completely different place. However, that doesn't mean that we can plan quietly, as you say, but what will happen?

SpaceX May Take Astronauts Home in 2025 If Boeing Unfit

Welcome to the Bloomberg Technology YouTube channel. Subscribe for original series and mini-docs on game-changing technologies, profiles on innovators, live conversations with experts, and breaking technology news & analysis from Bloomberg TV.

Bloomberg Technology

NASA has a backup plan for a crew mission in September, with the possibility of the astronauts returning in February 2025.

The backup plan is crucial, especially given the current global geopolitical environment, and it provides an important second option for safely sending humans to space.

In the era of space exploration, NASA still plays a central role despite having commercial partners leading the activity, as they are responsible for reviewing and authorizing decisions.

The Decision-Making Process for the Boeing Aircraft's Return from Space

NASA is taking more time to analyze data on the Boeing aircraft's performance and the thrusters' efficiency before making a decision on whether it can return with or without astronauts in September.

The agency prioritizes human safety and a safe landing in their decision, aiming to build confidence in the system.

NASA and Boeing face the challenge of regaining public confidence in the Starliner Project after cost overruns and delays, with the priority of ensuring the system's reliability before expecting public trust.

China's Satellite Constellation Ambitions

China's potential satellite constellation ambitions, similar to Starlink, are a current hot topic in the industry, raising questions about the competition for space and its proximity to US-Russian constellations.

Before SpaceX's constellation, smaller constellations were already in space, providing leverage to understand the potential impact of a strategic competitor like China launching its own constellations.

The Impact of Satellites on Radio Astronomy and the Night Sky

Discussions have been held on the effects of satellites on radio astronomy and their impact on visibility from Earth.

There is a focus on addressing orbital debris and developing policy and engineering solutions for space sustainability.

The presence of existing satellite constellations provides the United States with an opportunity to prepare for future challenges in this area.