What justification did Boeing offer for Starliner's higher cost estimate compared to Crew Dragon?
Answer
Boeing developed Starliner 'from scratch' while Crew Dragon used a pre-existing cargo design.
Boeing defended the projected higher cost of the Starliner capsule by emphasizing that, unlike SpaceX, which built the Crew Dragon upon the foundation of the already operational and flying robotic Cargo Dragon, Boeing was required to develop the entire Starliner system entirely 'from scratch.' This necessitates a greater upfront investment in initial design, development, and integration costs being folded into the overall contract value.
Related Questions
What was the initial per-seat cost estimate for a SpaceX Crew Dragon trip to the ISS based on OIG reports?How much more expensive was Boeing’s Starliner seat estimated to be than SpaceX’s Crew Dragon initially?What was the approximate historical per-seat cost NASA paid Russia for a Soyuz ride in 2018?What was the implied per-seat cost for SpaceX after adding $900 million for three additional missions?What justification did Boeing offer for Starliner's higher cost estimate compared to Crew Dragon?What component contributed significantly to the initial billion-dollar disparity in CCtCap awards between Boeing and SpaceX?Following adjustments for launch vehicles and COTS funding, what was suggested as the *true* disparity between the two contractors?How does flying four crew members and significant cargo affect the calculation of SpaceX's effective crew seat cost?What was the expectation for the maximum number of uses per previously flown Crew Dragon capsule?By how much did the reported $86 million per Soyuz seat cost approach when adjusted for inflation to more recent years?What benefit did the dual-provider strategy offer NASA when Boeing experienced significant technical delays?