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Comment by 9659 | Hacker News Reader

The SpaceX vehicle may look like the safest choice. But is it? A handful of manned flights does not prove that a vehicle is 'safe'. Likewise, some anomalies in 1 flight do not prove 'unsafe'.

Perhaps the knowledge of Starliner issues makes it more accurate to assess the risk.

Either vehicle could lose the crew on the return. "Astronauting" is a risky business.

I do not envy anyone on the decision chain.

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One vehicle has demonstrated it can return crew safely, the other has never done that and has exhibited problems on what should have been a demonstration flight (small issues, perhaps, but nothing as critical or questionable as they've found).

space shuttle looked safe for the first 24 launches. not shilling for Boeing. just pointing out that space is dangerous. and a couple of successes does not make the risk go away.

Nobody claims that the Dragon capsule is guarantee to be perfectly safe. The claim is that given the available evidence and track records, no rational assessment of risk would rank Dragon as more risky than Starliner.

Some anomalies in the first half of the first flight - some of which are directly relevant to its ability to successfully conduct the second half of the first flight.

No, that doesn't prove 'unsafe'. It gives reason to seriously question it, though.

This is ridiculous boeing apologism. the starliner craft is broken, and only semi-operable on it's maiden voyage. the spacex craft has flown succesfully multiple times without any incident, and they have data from multiple trips which was used to analyze and improve the flight. boeing does not have that.

There is a very clear safer option, and to pretend there isn't is enlightened centrism.

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