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For that investment to work, they need to bring in some revenue as well. The ISS is scheduled to retire by 2030. Let's assume this capsule goes operational in 2
by ragebol 3y ago
For that investment to work, they need to bring in some revenue as well. The ISS is scheduled to retire by 2030. Let's assume this capsule goes operational in 2025 and flies twice a year, that's 10 flights to recoup well, well over a billion by then. Let's say a 100 million per flight. Not sure what the contract is exactly, but it's not looking great.
Pretty sure SpaceX is cheaper, so NASA will be the only customer.
- throwawaymobule 3y agoNASA plans to have other places to send astronauts by then. The ISS will almost certainly have its life extended again before that though.
- pavon 3y agoNASA has already awarded all the ISS crew flights up through it's scheduled retirement in 2030. Boeing is contracted for 6 flights, and SpaceX for 14 (including the 6 it has already flown). NASA hasn't published the milestone payment schedules, but the total contract was for $4.2 billion, so Boeing would have needed to budget a 26% profit margin on the whole endeavor to break even at this point. That wouldn't surprise me, but they are probably quickly reaching the point where they will actually be losing money.