After many delays, Boeing’s StarLiner spacecraft finally lifted off this week and is headed for the International Space Station.
There were some problems, of course, but
when aren’t there any issues when it comes to space travel?
But this was a proud and exciting moment for Boeing. As far as a morale and confidence booster, it couldn’t have come at a better time for the beleaguered airplane and spaceship manufacturer.
Nobody needed such a moment more than
Boeing.
This is a ‘what have you done for me lately’ world. People are focusing on the quality control and safety issues the company has endured since it was revealed earlier this year that a door panel blew off an Alaska Airlines plane in midflight.
And rightfully so. The company lost its way. It appears that it started taking shortcuts in favor of the almighty dollar. This is an industry where you can’t take shortcuts.
A Proud Legacy
However, Boeing has a proud legacy that it can and should live off of.
Remember, this is a company that was
instrumental in air travel and a pioneer in going to space and to the moon. To
me, there is something to be said for hard work and the investment of sweat
equity. Again, that doesn’t mean that Boeing shouldn’t address its current
problems. It is critical, for a variety of reasons, that it do so.
Forgive the obvious pun, but this takeoff
of StarLiner is a good launching point back to respectability.
That’s not to say there weren’t any problems with this launch. There were. It serves as a microcosm of Boeing’s climb back. Before docking with the International Space Station, there was a problem with the StarLiner and its thrusters. It’s kind of a one-step up and two-step back situation.
But it’s going to be that way.
Boeing has lost much ground to Airbus, its main competitor. And Airbus is going in for the kill. This may be the time to start its comeback.
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