Boeing push to 'maximize profits' may have stranded astronauts in space: aerospace analyst

On Wednesday, the Telegraph reported that two U.S.-based astronauts for the Starliner spacecraft have been stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) for almost two weeks longer than planned.

Aerospace analyst Miles O'Brien discussed the implications for Boeing during an appearance on CNN, arguing that it is "reasonable" to ask if the aerospace giant's push to "maximize profits across the board has somehow manifested itself into cutting quarters in the space division" — and possibly caused the astronauts to be stranded in space.

The Telegraph's reporting came after Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun admitted he knows that the company retaliated against whistleblowers.

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Calhoun testified before the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations on Tuesday, addressing safety concerns about Boeing.

O'Brien told CNN's Jim Acosta, "There's like this stacked-up series of open questions, which has NASA and Boeing saying, 'You know, let's leave them up there a little bit longer until we figure this out.'"

The aerospace analyst warned that the crew on the Starliner spacecraft could be in "great jeopardy" if a mechanical failure occurs "on the way down."

O'Brien told Acosta, "This is a separate division of Boeing; the space people have their own operations separate from the commercial airliner business. But ultimately, the buck stops at the guy we saw in front of Congress the other day….. It's something we should take a long hard look at —have the woes of this troubled company extended beyond what is happening in Seattle?"

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Additional reporting by Elizabeth Preza

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