Boeing considering sale of space division

Boeing is reportedly exploring the potential sale of its space division as its new CEO aims to strengthen the struggling company’s financial situation.

The company is contemplating divesting its NASA business, which includes the troubled Starliner spacecraft, as noted by sources familiar with the discussions, Caliber.Az reports via Fench media.

In response to inquiries, a Boeing spokesperson said that the company "doesn't comment on market rumours or speculation."

Kelly Ortberg, who became CEO in August, indicated earlier this week that he is reviewing operations with a focus on refining Boeing's scope.

Ortberg emphasized that Boeing would benefit more from "doing less but doing it better rather than doing more and not executing well." He underscored that, while there are no immediate plans to downsize the space program, commercial aircraft and defence will remain "core" products integral to Boeing.

These comments follow Boeing's announcement of a staggering $6.2 billion loss, partly due to the impact of a six-week labour strike in the Seattle area that resulted in the closure of two assembly plants.

On the same day, the machinist union rejected Boeing's latest contract proposal, adding to the company's uncertainty.

Boeing has collaborated closely with the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for many years, but its space initiatives have faced significant challenges recently.

After multiple delays, the Starliner spacecraft launched in June for a test mission intended to last about a week. However, issues such as unexpected thruster malfunctions and helium leaks during the journey to the International Space Station (ISS) disrupted those plans, leading NASA to conclude in September that it was safer to return two astronauts on a SpaceX-operated vehicle.

By Tamilla Hasanova