Is There a Future for Boeing’s Starliner After Failed Mission-(Video)

NASA’s Decision to Return Starliner Without Crew Raises Critical Questions About the Program’s Viability

BY:SpaceEyeNews.

1. Introduction: A Mission Off-Course

On September 6, 2024, Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft returned to Earth with a thud, landing in New Mexico, but without its intended crew. The spacecraft, which had been docked at the International Space Station (ISS) for over three months, was supposed to bring astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams back home. However, after a series of technical malfunctions, NASA made the difficult decision to return the spacecraft without its crew—marking a significant failure for Boeing’s ambitious Starliner program.

NASA’s decision to forego a crewed return due to technical faults in the spacecraft’s thrusters and helium pressurization system cast a shadow over Boeing’s Starliner, which was expected to be a vital part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program. Instead of a successful crewed return, Starliner now faces significant uncertainty about its future, with many questioning whether Boeing can turn this program around.

2. Thruster Problems and Empty Return: What Went Wrong?

The Starliner’s issues stemmed primarily from faulty thrusters. Shortly after launching in June, engineers identified malfunctions in the spacecraft’s helium system, which is crucial for pressurizing the thrusters responsible for maneuvering the ship.. The malfunction raised alarms, as safe control of the spacecraft is paramount for bringing astronauts back to Earth.

In addition to the helium leaks, the spacecraft’s thrusters exhibited troubling performance, leading NASA to conclude that it was unsafe for the astronauts to return aboard Starliner. After weeks of deliberation and testing, NASA opted to have Wilmore and Williams remain on the ISS and return on a SpaceX Crew Dragon mission scheduled for February 2025.

While NASA officials, including Ken Bowersox, praised the thorough analysis and safety-first decision-making process, the fact remains: Starliner, despite its years of development and billions in investment, failed at a critical juncture. The uncrewed landing, while technically successful, only underscores the deeper issues with Boeing’s spacecraft.

3. Boeing’s Struggles: Financial and Technological Burdens

Boeing’s Starliner program has been a long, expensive journey fraught with delays and technological hurdles. Initially, the company was awarded $4.2 billion as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program in 2014, with the goal of providing a second spacecraft option for ferrying astronauts to the ISS. However, the project has consistently fallen behind schedule and over budget.

Starliner’s issues began as early as 2019, when its first uncrewed test flight failed to dock with the ISS due to a software malfunction. It wasn’t until 2022 that the spacecraft successfully completed an uncrewed mission to the ISS, clearing the way for the long-anticipated crewed test flight. Yet, as this most recent failure shows, Starliner still faces significant hurdles before it can be deemed safe and reliable for regular crewed missions.

In addition to technical issues, Boeing has burned through over $1.6 billion in additional charges to cover the costs of fixing Starliner’s problems. The company took a $250 million hit in the second quarter of 2023 alone, as it worked to resolve the spacecraft’s issues. With each delay and failure, Boeing’s ability to recover financially becomes more tenuous.

4. NASA’s Redundancy Dilemma: Can Starliner Still Play a Role?

NASA’s Commercial Crew Program was designed with a key principle in mind: redundancy. After the Challenger and Columbia disasters, NASA learned the importance of having multiple spacecraft options for crewed missions.

SpaceX’s Crew Dragon has filled one of those roles, launching 13 successful crewed missions since 2020, but Starliner was meant to provide a second option—a safeguard against relying on a single spacecraft.

However, Boeing’s repeated delays and failures have cast doubt on whether Starliner can fulfill that role. With the ISS scheduled to be deorbited in 2030, time is running out for Boeing to prove that Starliner is a viable option for NASA’s crewed spaceflight needs.

NASA has made it clear that redundancy remains a priority, but with SpaceX’s proven success, the agency may have to reconsider whether Starliner is worth further investment. As Joel Montalbano, a NASA official, emphasized after Starliner’s return, “This was a test mission, and we learned from it.”  

5. Boeing’s Aviation Troubles Adding Pressure

The Starliner program’s struggles come at a time when Boeing is already under immense pressure due to issues in its commercial aviation division. The crashes of two 737 Max aircraft in 2018 and 2019, which claimed 346 lives, severely damaged Boeing’s reputation and led to the global grounding of the 737 Max fleet.

More recently, a door malfunction on a 737 Max test flight in January 2024 further compounded Boeing’s woes, raising fresh concerns about the safety of its commercial aircraft. In early September 2024, Boeing’s stock plummeted 7.3% following a downgrade by Wells Fargo, highlighting the financial strain the company is under.

These aviation issues only add to the pressure on Boeing to fix Starliner. The company cannot afford more failures, either in space or in the air. Fixing Starliner’s Thruster issues will require significant investment, and the question remains: can Boeing recover financially and reputationally from its mounting troubles?

 6. The Path Forward: What’s Next for Starliner?

Despite the challenges, Boeing and NASA have expressed cautious optimism about Starliner’s future. NASA officials have emphasized that the mission was always intended as a test flight, and that important lessons have been learned. According to NASA’s Steve Stich, Starliner performed well in many areas, including its entry, descent, and landing.

Boeing’s engineers are already working to address the spacecraft’s thruster issues. One potential fix involves adjusting the software to reduce the thrusters’ operational demands, while another focuses on altering the thermal protection systems to prevent overheating. However, implementing these fixes will take time, and there is no guarantee that Boeing will meet the necessary milestones before the ISS is deorbited.

For now, Boeing is moving forward with plans to complete six more crewed missions to the ISS by 2030, but whether Starliner can fulfill those missions remains to be seen. With SpaceX continuing to deliver successful missions for NASA, Boeing faces an uphill battle to regain the agency’s confidence.

7. Conclusion: What the Future Holds for Boeing and Starliner

Boeing’s Starliner was once seen as a critical component of NASA’s crewed spaceflight program, but a series of costly failures has put the spacecraft’s future in doubt. The recent thruster malfunction, which forced NASA to return Starliner uncrewed, is the latest in a string of setbacks that have delayed the program and raised questions about Boeing’s ability to deliver a reliable spacecraft.

NASA’s commitment to redundancy in crewed spaceflight means that Starliner could still play a role, but Boeing has a long road ahead to prove that the spacecraft is safe and ready for crewed missions. With SpaceX continuing to dominate NASA’s crewed spaceflight operations, Boeing must act quickly to salvage the Starliner program and restore its reputation in the aerospace industry.

Whether Starliner can recover remains uncertain, but what is clear is that Boeing’s future in space depends on its ability to fix the problems that have plagued the spacecraft since its inception. What happens next will shape not only the future of Starliner, but also the broader landscape of U.S. human spaceflight.

References:

– NASA. (2024). NASA, Boeing Welcome Starliner Spacecraft to Earth, Close Mission. Retrieved from [NASA.gov](https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-boeing-welcome-starliner-spacecraft-to-earth)

– Space.com. (2024). What’s next for Boeing’s Starliner capsule after its uncrewed landing? Retrieved from [Space.com](https://www.space.com/boeing-starliner-future-after-landing)

– AeroTime. (2024). Boeing’s beleaguered Starliner to depart ISS on Friday: NASA. Retrieved from [AeroTime.aero](https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/boeing-starliner-departs-iss)