Introduction
In the world of space exploration and commercialization, SpaceX and Boeing are taking astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) with their respective spacecraft. SpaceX’s Crew Dragon and Boeing’s Starliner have made space launches and low earth orbit trips possible, but which one is better? In this blog post, we will take a closer look at these two spacecraft and compare their features, capabilities, and mission accomplishments - no prizes for guessing which one will come out on top!
Design
The first thing that comes to mind when comparing Crew Dragon and Starliner is their design. Both spacecraft are designed to take astronauts to and from the ISS, but their designs are quite different from each other. Crew Dragon has a sleek and futuristic look, and its unique design has earned it the nickname 'the gumdrop'. Meanwhile, Starliner has a more traditional spacecraft design with a capsule-shaped cabin and a cone-shaped service module.
Capacity
Capacity is an important factor when it comes to spaceflight, and both Crew Dragon and Starliner have different strengths in this aspect.
Crew Dragon can carry up to seven passengers at a time - this is double the capacity of Starliner, which can carry only four passengers. But Starliner has a trick up its sleeve - it has a little more cargo carrying capacity than Crew Dragon. It can deliver up to 2,500 kg of pressurized cargo and up to 1,500 kg of unpressurized cargo, while Crew Dragon can only carry around 400 kg of cargo.
Launch Vehicles
Both Crew Dragon and Starliner are transported to space via rockets. Crew Dragon uses SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket, while Starliner uses United Launch Alliance's Atlas V rocket. Falcon 9 rocket has a proven track record of successful launches, and Crew Dragon has already completed several successful missions to the ISS.
However, Starliner has faced a few setbacks. In December 2019, Starliner's first orbital test flight failed to reach the ISS due to a technical issue, and it had to return to Earth prematurely.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Crew Dragon and Starliner have their own strengths, but Crew Dragon seems to have a clear advantage over Starliner. It can carry more passengers at a time, and its launch vehicle has a proven track record of successful launches.
With both spacecraft continuing to evolve, it will be interesting to see how they compare in the years to come. Do you have a favorite spacecraft? Let us know in the comments below!