In a surprising turn of events, Boeing employees are left feeling humiliated after NASA announced that two astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who have been stranded on the International Space Station (ISS), will have to be rescued by Elon Musk's SpaceX instead of Boeing's troubled Starliner space capsule. The decision comes as another blow to Boeing, which has already faced backlash due to a series of commercial flight incidents earlier this year.

According to a Florida-based Boeing employee involved in the space program, the decision to rely on SpaceX has worsened the already low morale within the company. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the employee expressed the sentiments shared by many in Boeing, stating, "We hate SpaceX. We talk s-t about them all the time, and now they're bailing us out." The announcement has left employees feeling ashamed and horrified.

Boeing's Starliner spacecraft encountered numerous issues during its maiden crewed flight on June 5. The craft suffered a helium leak just before liftoff, and the leaks worsened upon docking at the ISS. Additionally, there were several failures with the craft's thrusters. While some of these issues have since been mitigated, NASA deemed it safest for Wilmore and Williams to return to Earth through SpaceX's Dragon Crew-9 mission in February 2025.

Boeing maintains that its Starliner craft could safely transport the astronauts back to Earth. However, NASA decided to turn to SpaceX after more than two months of testing the Starliner, which is still docked at the ISS. The employee expressed frustration, stating, "We believed that Starliner could bring them home safely, but NASA didn't want to chance it. They have their own PR issues and don't need two dead astronauts."

Steve Stich, NASA's Commercial Crew Program manager, mentioned that the decision to choose SpaceX over Boeing came down to a disagreement about risk. Boeing has not commented on NASA's decision but emphasized its focus on ensuring the safety of the crew and spacecraft. The company has invested approximately $1.5 billion in cost overruns beyond its initial $4.5 billion contract with NASA, as the space agency aims to establish Starliner as its second mode of transportation to the ISS alongside SpaceX's Crew Dragon.

Starliner's technical difficulties pose a threat to Boeing's future prospects and further tarnish its reputation in the aerospace industry. The company has encountered safety concerns throughout the year, starting with a door panel incident on an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 jet. This incident, combined with other high-profile malfunctions, has prompted at least 20 whistleblowers to come forward, highlighting concerns about safety and quality at Boeing.

With morale dwindling at Boeing and the humiliation of relying on their competitors for rescue missions, the aerospace giant faces significant challenges in regaining trust and restoring its reputation. Time will tell how these events will impact the company's standing in the industry and its relationship with NASA.