What benefit did the dual-provider strategy offer NASA when Boeing experienced significant technical delays?
Answer
Ensured the ISS crew rotation schedule was not jeopardized.
The primary benefit of structuring the CCP with two independent providers, SpaceX and Boeing, was schedule resiliency. When Boeing faced substantial technical delays with the Starliner development schedule, the presence of a reliably operational SpaceX service guaranteed that the necessary crew rotation for the International Space Station (ISS) could proceed uninterrupted. This dual coverage prevented serious jeopardy to staffing levels and station operations.
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