Originally Posted by
dtaylor1984
If the two Starliner crew used it, there would be no lifeboat for the remaining crew?
Pretty sure that's the correct answer (although I don't have personal knowledge of the mission operational rules for utilization of the "rescue" Soyuz capsule).
Another factor. Against the backdrop of (1) Russia developing and testing an nuclesr ASAT system (reportedly and as stated by State Department and White House officials and Members of Congress), (2) overall tensions in the great power competition arena, and (3) Russia's stated intention to leave the ISS program in the near-term future, opening a discussion with the Russians about utilizing the Soyuz capsule to extricate NASA and Boeing from this ..... situation, is likely not much of a viable option.