NASA report finds Boeing seat prices are 60% higher than SpaceX

[smp]

From Ars Technica:
"On Thursday, NASA's inspector general released a report on the space agency's commercial crew program, which seeks to pay Boeing and SpaceX to develop vehicles to transport astronauts to the International Space Station.

Although the report cites the usual technical issues that the companies are having with the development of their respective Starliner and Dragon spacecraft, far more illuminating is its discussion of costs. Notably, the report publishes estimated seat prices for the first time, and it also delves into the extent that Boeing has gone to extract more money from NASA above and beyond its fixed-price award."

https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/11 ... an-spacex/

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[notFritzArgelander]

I sincerely hope that SpaceX is able to provide a viable alternative to the extortionate practices of the usual military-industrial-aerospace complex.

[smp]

I sincerely hope that SpaceX is able to provide a viable alternative to the extortionate practices of the usual military-industrial-aerospace complex.

Indeed! However, as we see in articles all the time, the Defense Contractors have lobbies that influence Senators and Representatives, who then influence Government Agencies, and we seem to not be able to break the stranglehold the Defense Contractors have on getting contracts. Even when there are excellent qualified alternatives.

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[smp]

Here's another article on Ars Technica today:

https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/11 ... xperience/

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[notFritzArgelander]

Here's another article on Ars Technica today:

https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/11 ... xperience/

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Yup. It reads as though the NASA IG has the right of it and Boeing is doing the CYA ballet.

[SKEtrip]

Boeing has to pay for the 737 Max somehow.....

[notFritzArgelander]

Boeing has to pay for the 737 Max somehow.....

Wickedly funny. Unfortunately likely true.
Although it's a violation of the Federal Acquisition Regulations to subsidize one project from another it happens ALL the time.