It feels like we're just watching them slowly die up there. Maybe one of the billionaires is trying to discredit public space programs for good and their deaths are intended to be that final bell.

Edit: Thanks for the down votes guys! I guess my concerns are unfounded.

[–] SpatchyIsOnline 9 points 6 hours ago

They're astronauts, they're loving this, they've said so in Interviews and it's pretty obvious they've not just been told to say that. That's not to mention that Starliner is a private spacecraft (just as much as Dragon is) and that's the only thing being discredited here.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 6 hours ago (2 children)

The ISS still gets regular deliveries and even some replacement astronauts from SpaceX but the Boeing and SpaceX suits aren't inter-compatible so they can't hitch a ride back afaik.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 56 minutes ago

When your government is so afraid of socialism that they won't even mandate that the two companies they contract out share some compatibility for the sake of convenience.

"Should we tell them that part of the deal is that they have to both work with the others technology?"

"What are you, Lenin?"

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 hours ago

the Boeing and SpaceX suits aren't inter-compatible so they can't hitch a ride back

They are indeed hitching a ride back. The SpaceX Crew-9 Dragon launched with two empty seats for this reason. Two extra Dragon IVA suits were sent up as well.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 hours ago* (last edited 6 hours ago)

I wonder what the defining amount of bone density loss marks the onset of osteoporosis. A cursory google search suggests that they are losing between 1-2% per month in space.