The delay, which further postponed the first-ever crewed flight of Starliner, prompts questions about the next steps in the mission and adds to the spacecraft's history of costly delays.

The inaugural flight of the program has booked all six seats on an upcoming Blue Origin New Shepard mission, with five seats designated for citizens from partner nations lacking astronaut representation and the sixth seat available globally.

In a significant push to integrate cutting-edge space technology within its military operations, the Indian Defence establishment, spearheaded by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan, is now actively fostering collaborations with the nation’s space industry and startups. This initiative aims to bridge the technological gap between India and its adversaries, ensuring a modernised force capable of meeting future challenges.