Washington D.C. - NASA has announced a significant delay in Boeing's Starliner spacecraft program, citing uncertainty over the spacecraft's certification timeline. This decision comes after propulsion issues and thruster malfunctions plagued the spacecraft's first crewed test flight, known as Crew Flight Test (CFT), which launched on June 5.
Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft that launched NASA’s Crew Flight Test astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to the International Space Station is pictured docked to the Harmony module’s forward port. This long-duration photograph was taken at night from the orbital complex as it soared 256 miles above the Arabian Sea off the coast of Mumbai, India. Photo credit: NASA
spacecraft, designed to carry astronauts to and from the International Space Station (ISS). However, the mission was marred by technical issues, including five malfunctioning thrusters out of 28 in the capsule's reaction control system. These problems caused a delay in docking with the ISS and ultimately led to the spacecraft's early departure without astronauts.
According to a statement released by NASA on October 15, the agency will rely on SpaceX's Crew Dragon for its next two crew rotation missions to the ISS in 2025. The Crew-10 mission, scheduled for February 2025, will carry NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Russian cosmonaut Kirill Peskov. The Crew-11 mission, scheduled for July 2025, will follow, with the crew to be announced at a later date.
Certification Concerns
NASA officials stated that the timing and configuration of Starliner's next flight will depend on a better understanding of Boeing's path to system certification. The agency is keeping options open for potential certification pathways, including the possibility of another test flight in 2025.
"NASA is committed to ensuring the safety and reliability of our commercial crew programs," said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. "We will continue to work closely with Boeing to address the ongoing issues and ensure that the Starliner spacecraft meets our certification requirements."
Impact on Future Missions
The delay affects the Starliner-1 mission, previously scheduled for 2025, which was intended to be the spacecraft's first operational mission. Assigned astronauts Scott Tingle, Mike Fincke, and Joshua Kutryk await further updates on their mission status.
NASA's update did not provide information on the crew's status should Starliner require a second test flight with astronauts or if the program otherwise significantly changes.
Boeing has acknowledged the certification concerns and expressed commitment to addressing the issues. "We understand the importance of ensuring the safety and reliability of our spacecraft," said Leanne Caret, President and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security. "We will continue to work closely with NASA to resolve the ongoing issues and achieve certification."
NASA's Crew-10 mission will launch in February 2025, followed by Crew-11 in July. The agency has not yet announced the crew for the Crew-11 mission.
As NASA and Boeing work to address certification concerns, the future of the Starliner program remains uncertain. The agency will provide updates on Starliner's status as more information becomes available.
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