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This undated image made available by Elon Musk shows a new spacesuit from his company SpaceX. SpaceX via AP
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Boeing astronaut Chris Ferguson helps Nasa astronauts Nicole Mann (L) and Mike Fincke (R) train for a spacewalk inside the International Space Station Airlock Mockup at Nasa's Johnson Space Center in Houston in February 2019. Nasa/Boeing via AP
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Acting Nasa administrator Steve Jurczyk (L) and Rick Gilbrech, director of Nasa's Stennis Space Center watch a second test of the core stage of a Boeing-built rocket for Artemis missions that aim to return US astronauts to the moon by 2024, at NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, March 18, 2021. Nasa/Reuters
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The second hot fire test of the core stage of a Boeing-built rocket for Artemis missions, that aim to return US astronauts to the moon by 2024, is seen at Nasa’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, March 18, 2021. Nasa/Reuters
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The Boeing CST-100 Starliner spacecraft failed to meet its destined orbit following its successful launch in Cape Canaveral, Florida in December 2019. Nasa
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Former Atlantis shuttle commander Chris Ferguson models Boeing's new spacesuit for its Starliner. Courtesy Boeing
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A guest visits the Boeing CST-100 capsule craft that accompanied former US navy pilot and astronaut Capt Chris Ferguson to Mubarak bin Mohammed School in Abu Dhabi. Silvia Razgova / The National
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SpaceX's first super heavy-lift Starship SN8 rocket explodes during a return-landing attempt after it launched from their facility on a test flight in Boca Chica, Texas, December 9, 2020. Reuters
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SpaceX founder Elon Musk (L), introduces Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa as the first private passenger on a trip around the moon, in September 2018. AP
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A SpaceX rocket lifts off. SpaceX/AFP
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A remodelled version of the Space X rocket lifts off from Cape Canaveral. Reuters
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This undated image made available by Elon Musk shows a new spacesuit from his company SpaceX. SpaceX via AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KNRZ76WQ2O73FLSVB3OBK4Q3K4.jpg?smart=true&auth=066171a1b70b6265ad00365627bc95db55a50beba304cd49a5dc7a448968b7fd&width=400&height=225)
Boeing astronaut Chris Ferguson helps Nasa astronauts Nicole Mann (L) and Mike Fincke (R) train for a spacewalk inside the International Space Station Airlock Mockup at Nasa's Johnson Space Center in Houston in February 2019. Nasa/Boeing via AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZD3GT5OG5XKC2R74KA36EIJ5BI.jpg?smart=true&auth=8112de7eba939efa804135027486575918bda9a07e3ed20ea5c92e7ae998f735&width=400&height=225)
Acting Nasa administrator Steve Jurczyk (L) and Rick Gilbrech, director of Nasa's Stennis Space Center watch a second test of the core stage of a Boeing-built rocket for Artemis missions that aim to return US astronauts to the moon by 2024, at NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, March 18, 2021. Nasa/Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JDFSLS3F55YH55BNM6JD73TBUU.jpg?smart=true&auth=69a7bc8f4a6b13c6be593149c444aeb519255195ec130b3d0938f7a0091b9d45&width=400&height=225)
The second hot fire test of the core stage of a Boeing-built rocket for Artemis missions, that aim to return US astronauts to the moon by 2024, is seen at Nasa’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, March 18, 2021. Nasa/Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/C5TJQDUINH5YR343DTPUIO7W2Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=45a9a85b6557912ebceb552b7bbc4ca72975b962b428bc0f25ab258155b5a6a6&width=400&height=225)
The Boeing CST-100 Starliner spacecraft failed to meet its destined orbit following its successful launch in Cape Canaveral, Florida in December 2019. Nasa
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZTDIUAYREK4GJVRTWE3SMOMHAY.jpg?smart=true&auth=bf385e9ab975bfea88a11ff39c07b7a67dc9ddc9153aed37a1c21e92cc8bc6a9&width=400&height=225)
Former Atlantis shuttle commander Chris Ferguson models Boeing's new spacesuit for its Starliner. Courtesy Boeing
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A guest visits the Boeing CST-100 capsule craft that accompanied former US navy pilot and astronaut Capt Chris Ferguson to Mubarak bin Mohammed School in Abu Dhabi. Silvia Razgova / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WW2LT6DTFBM24EKC6F2HA3ZXMM.jpg?smart=true&auth=8441d14d2f5ef2792e0e6c3aa0ffd7633ae6a9abc46936a54e51f1a84361b559&width=400&height=225)
SpaceX's first super heavy-lift Starship SN8 rocket explodes during a return-landing attempt after it launched from their facility on a test flight in Boca Chica, Texas, December 9, 2020. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/N7J753TMY6I5T7GWEYZPMOXQY4.jpg?smart=true&auth=b1dc8b0c5a67ca05d337661c9ec01adf4913d151d0d26353b65df645cb5e9bde&width=400&height=225)
SpaceX founder Elon Musk (L), introduces Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa as the first private passenger on a trip around the moon, in September 2018. AP
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A SpaceX rocket lifts off. SpaceX/AFP
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A remodelled version of the Space X rocket lifts off from Cape Canaveral. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7EW6I7ZQKZ3BSRZBFQOKBBC5DQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=e78433952a00403a022ffd1f825bdf8d6aad46502090f89598b6f8f45758fff4&width=400&height=225)
This undated image made available by Elon Musk shows a new spacesuit from his company SpaceX. SpaceX via AP
Boeing v SpaceX: the rivalry shaping the future of space exploration
The fortunes of both companies rest on the success of two wildly different rockets
![Arthur Scott-Geddes](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F87a4cdf0-595f-4f13-876b-292b3d90c767.png?smart=true&auth=dc8f91509dcd8e60a42885e9c07896af781d21ec88db319dc8022d2f55481bcf&width=70&height=70)
Arthur Scott-Geddes
07 April, 2021
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