Aviation

NASA’s Talks with Elon Musk’s SpaceX Could Restore Crew Return Capabilities

Ongoing discussions with Elon Musk’s SpaceX about the Dragon spacecraft could provide a new alternative for bringing astronauts back from the space station. NASA is exploring more possibilities with SpaceX

Boeing is facing a deepening crisis with its Starliner crew vehicle, which is currently stuck at the International Space Station (ISS).

Boeing and NASA are trying to figure out how to bring the astronauts back to Earth safely. What was supposed to be a short mission has stretched beyond a month due to problems with Starliner’s propulsion system, raising concerns about the spacecraft’s safety.

NASA said that if Starliner remains unsafe, the astronauts might return on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon in February 2025. NASA is discussing with SpaceX the possibility of reserving two seats on a Crew Dragon flight for the astronauts who flew on Starliner.

Starliner’s mission was initially planned to last about eight days but has been extended due to issues with its propulsion system. Boeing believes the spacecraft is safe, but if needed, they are ready to prepare Starliner for an uncrewed return.

Using a SpaceX spacecraft to bring the astronauts back would be a significant setback for Boeing, which has struggled to compete with SpaceX.

Problems with Starliner’s thrusters and helium leaks have led to extensive testing to resolve these issues. Recent test results have raised more concerns about the spacecraft’s ability to return safely.

Starliner has been docked at the ISS for 63 of its 90 allowable days and occupies the docking port that Crew Dragon will need for its upcoming mission.

Aviation

DOT Penalizes Lufthansa $4 Million for Stopping Jewish Passengers From Boarding

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has imposed a $4 million penalty on Lufthansa for discriminating against Jewish passengers traveling from New York City to Budapest via Frankfurt in May 2022. The incident marked the largest civil rights fine ever levied by the DOT against an airline.

The case stems from an incident where Lufthansa denied 128 Jewish passengers — most of whom were wearing traditional Orthodox Jewish attire — from boarding their connecting flight in Germany.

China Airlines eyes new aircraft order for 777X and A350-1000

The airline’s actions were based on the alleged misconduct of a few individuals during the first leg of the journey from John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) to Frankfurt (FRA). However, many of those passengers did not know each other or travel as a group. DOT investigators found that Lufthansa treated them as a single entity, barring them from their connecting flight to Budapest (BUD) for the actions of a few.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the department’s commitment to protecting passengers’ rights. “No one should face discrimination when they travel, and today’s action sends a clear message to the airline industry that we are prepared to investigate and take action whenever passengers’ civil rights are violated,” he said. Buttigieg added that DOT’s increased enforcement efforts aim to ensure airlines treat all passengers with fairness and dignity.

This aircraft won’t need a runway

The investigation began after DOT received over 40 complaints from Jewish passengers affected by the incident. Despite some passengers failing to follow crew instructions on the first flight, lufthansa business lounge newark did not specifically identify any noncompliant individuals.

Instead, the airline placed a blanket hold on the tickets of over 100 passengers, preventing them from continuing their journey. lufthansa airways acknowledged that this approach could lead to excluding compliant passengers but deemed it impractical to address each case individually.