No astronaut has died on ISS in 30 years. Claiming they are in significant danger simply isn't accurate. Saying 'the default state in space is dead' when historically basically nobody has died in space.
Nobody claimed as much. A jet liner is safer than the ISS. The analogy is conservative.
> Saying 'the default state in space is dead' when historically basically nobody has died in space
Our default state at cruising altitude is dead.
Note: I’m not suggesting anyone would have died. Just that they were in a perilous place where things were going wrong. Being relieved from that position is a rescue.
Maybe not if the jet is a Boeing though?
And I'd rather be with the Starliner at 400 km up than without the Starliner at 400 km up.
But neither seem to be of comparable safety to the other options available.
It is likewise as foolish to try decoupling the peril of space and the peril of orbit and deorbit.