CST-100 In Doubt?

An official at Boeing recently said the company's commitment to its new manned spacecraft, the CST-100, may change if NASA funding for the program dries up.  Due to federal money problems, NASA's budget is under continuing pressure, and some in Congress want the agency to reduce its financial support for companies trying to build manned spacecraft that would be owned and operated by private corporations.  Boeing may still pursue the project without NASA backing, but the pace of development may slow.

A slower development of the CST-100 would also effect Bigelow Aerospace.  Boeing and Bigelow are currently working on a project that would put a Bigelow space station in low Earth orbit and use the CST-100 to ferry crew to and from the station.  So, if Boeing eases back on developing the spacecraft, it could also be delaying the opening of an important new era of the Space Age.