SpaceX Crew Dragon vs Boeing Starliner Explained

The advantages and disadvantages of Crew Dragon and Starliner have been sparred over for many years. In this video, I hope to settle the up and downsides of each spacecraft, and hopefully let you all decide which one you'd want a seat on. Although, I'm beginning to think I know which one you will prefer already!

Dragon 2 is a class of reusable spacecraft developed and manufactured by U.S. aerospace manufacturer SpaceX, intended as the successor to the Dragon cargo spacecraft. The spacecraft launches atop a Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket and returns via ocean splashdown. When compared to Dragon, Crew Dragon has larger windows, new flight computers and avionics, redesigned solar arrays, and a modified outer mold line.

The spacecraft has two planned variants – Crew Dragon, a human-rated capsule capable of carrying up to seven astronauts, and Cargo Dragon, an updated replacement for the original Dragon. Crew Dragon is equipped with an integrated launch escape system in a set of four side-mounted thruster pods with two SuperDraco engines each.

The Boeing Starliner (CST-100 - Crew Space Transportation-100) is a crew capsule manufactured by Boeing as its participation in NASA's Commercial Crew Development (CCDev) program. Its primary purpose is to transport crew to the International Space Station (ISS) and to private space stations such as the proposed Bigelow Aerospace Commercial Space Station.

The capsule has a diameter of 4.56 m, which is slightly larger than the Apollo command module and smaller than the Orion capsule. The Boeing Starliner holds a crew of up to seven people and is being designed to be able to remain in-orbit for up to seven months with the reusability of up to ten missions. It is designed to be compatible with four launch vehicles: Atlas V, Delta IV, Falcon 9, and Vulcan.

Editor: Jenny Cho

Leave future episode ideas in the comments below!

[howtobedope]

Well boys, I think we found out who won today.

[themightyburrito]

Who’s watching after the dragon crewed launch?

[ondranovy]

10 years ago: people reviewing cars
Now: people reviwing spaceships :DD

[davemonteau]

I just ran across your article and have subscribed. As an old fart who worked on the Apollo for 5+ years (and received a Silver Snoopy Award from the Astronauts Office in 1969), I found your video informative and easy to follow. It's great to see that genuine interest in our space programs is alive and well.

[Clark-Mills]

Sadly Boeing & Software shouldn't be mentioned in the same sentence in this day and age...

[Diggnuts]

Let me think... Do I prefer the inferior more expensive product of a company that has slowed down the advance of space tech because their cosy complacent position in the space industry for decades? Or do I like the company who does not spend half it's budget on lobbyists trying to influence politics to keep said cosy complacent position in tact, but instead actually innovates at a rapid rate at a much much lower cost?


Guess which one I prefer.

[shinjiprofile]

And China is just waiting for the best one's to copy.

[shinikyokai]

00:01:46 "The Rise of Starliner a new error in human spaceflight."

[eliparker]

At this point I think Starship will fly to orbit before Starliner goes to ISS.

[Spindrift-idez]

Considering the resent failure of the Starliner do to Boeings laziness when testing, I wouldn't step foot on it.. Go Space X. They did better with less money.

[davidhood]

I like how you gloss over the Starliner's abysmal cargo capacity at 16:06

[raymondheath]

I was a child of the Apollo years and very disappointed for 30 years after despite the Space Shuttle. Low earth orbit wasn't what we were I'm still waiting for my flying car!

[jcf]

The difference is simple.

Dragon works.
Starliner doesn't work.

[thethprez]

Who's here after watching the Crew Dragon launch today?

[audioengineer]

Crew Dragon NEEDS to win this, and afterwards, the thruster landings should be recommissioned with parachute emergency backup option.

[aliensoup]

Primary difference - one is operational and functioning within expectations, and one isn't.

[RichardShelton]

I really like your presentations, very clear and easy to understand. I'm 70 and have watched the US manned space program from it's infancy. Even back then, I thought that privatization would be a better system than one central government agency sprinkled with lots of military pilots. And, betting the farm on the Space Shuttle was shear lunacy. Good luck to both companies, I can't wait to see America launch it's astronauts again!

[dedeshields]

great video! no bs, no bias, no politics, just straightforward info. keep it up!

[chiepah]

The first rule of government spending: Why buy one when you can buy 2 for twice the price.

[lordgarion]

The difference is one of them is 60% more expensive than the other, and would have most likely killed the crew if they had been on it, due to crappy testing.

But they told us the extra money was justified because of how good the testing