Boeing’s stock took a dip on Tuesday, following news of a six-month delay in a crucial production milestone for its 737 MAX aircraft. The company informed suppliers of the setback, adding to the ongoing challenges faced by the aircraft manufacturer.
However, Boeing also unveiled an exciting new venture – the planned launch of its Q4S satellite in 2026. This Boeing-funded mission aims to revolutionize communication by laying the groundwork for a secure global quantum internet. By connecting quantum sensors and computers across the globe, this initiative promises to unlock unprecedented advancements in data transmission and processing.
The experiment will focus on demonstrating quantum networking in space, pushing the boundaries of our understanding of how such networks can be built over vast distances while maintaining precise synchronization. “Quantum entanglement swapping underpins the communication of the future, expanding quantum networks beyond simple point-to-point communication,” said Jay Lowell, chief engineer for Boeing’s Disruptive Computing, Networks & Sensors organization. “We’re launching Q4S to prove it can be done in orbit.”
The potential of Q4S lies in its ability to create a scalable network, enabling quantum information to be transmitted over vast distances, something currently limited by decoherence and loss.
Despite the 737 MAX delay, Boeing reported positive news on its commercial aircraft deliveries. The company delivered 40 commercial jets in August, five more than in the same month of 2023, when a manufacturing defect affected 737 MAX production, according to Reuters.
While investors can gain exposure to Boeing through ETFs like the IShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA) and Gabelli Commercial Aerospace and Defense ETF (GCAD), the recent developments have left BA shares down 2.82% at $158.32 at the time of writing.
This news comes on the heels of Boeing’s troubled Starliner space capsule, which recently returned to Earth without a crew after a test flight plagued by technical issues and delays. The mission attracted global attention due to numerous problems that forced NASA to extend the stays of astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams.
Boeing continues to face a complex landscape, navigating both setbacks and groundbreaking advancements in the aerospace and technological fields.
