WASHINGTON – Regardless of rumors on the contrary, Boeing is just not making ready to exit the house enterprise, a vice chairman for the aerospace big mentioned.
“I do know there’s been some dialogue about that, however it’s core to the enterprise that I run, the satellite tv for pc and related floor work,” Michelle Parker, Boeing Area Mission Techniques vice chairman, advised SpaceNews on the Satellite tv for pc 2025 convention. “We’re investing closely on this space. We’re wanting ahead to delivering capabilities to the shopper this 12 months, subsequent 12 months and nicely past that.”
The Wall Street Journal reported in October that Boeing was in early-stage discussions to promote the portion of its house enterprise answerable for the CST-100 Starliner, a spacee capsule to transports astronauts and cargo to and from the Worldwide Area Station.
With out addressing the report, Parker mentioned sturdy demand for Boeing Area Mission Techniques merchandise together with industrial and authorities satellites and the X-37B military spaceplane. Parker’s group based mostly in El Segundo, California, additionally oversees Boeing subsidiaries Spectrolab, a photo voltaic panel producer, and Millennium Area Techniques, a first-rate contractor for small satellites.
Industrial and Army Orders
After successful a $414 million contract from the U.S. Area Pressure Area Improvement Company to construct eight satellites for the Fireplace-control On Orbit-support-to-the-war Fighter (Foo Fighter) program, Millennium started increasing its small satellite tv for pc manufacturing unit.
“We’ll double that capability as orders proceed to return in,” Parker mentioned.
As well as, Boeing Area Mission Techniques is on contract to ship 5 extra O3b mPower communications satellites to SES, a 12th Wideband Global Satcom geostationary satellite below a $439.6 million U.S. Area Pressure contract and six satellites to detect and track ballistic and hypersonic missiles below a $386 million Area Pressure award.
Spectrolab, in the meantime, is rising manufacturing of photo voltaic cells for Boeing and different prospects.
“With all of the satellites being constructed comes the demand for extra photo voltaic cells,” Parker mentioned. “We’re seeking to enhance Spectrolab’s capability after which drive the value level down with automation.”
Boeing Losses
Boeing, based mostly in Arlington, Virginia, reported a lack of $11.8 billion in 2024, with more than $500 million associated to the Starliner program.
Starliner and the Area Launch System, the moon rocket for NASA’s Artemis program, fall below Boeing Protection Area & Safety however aren’t a part of Boeing Area Mission Techniques.
When Boeing Area Mission Techniques was shaped about two years, “we set a plan to extend our manufacturing and make the most of this broad portfolio, from small satellites to large satellites,” Parker mentioned. “We’re seeing the fruits of these labors.”
