Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, scheduled to return to Earth from the International Space Station with its first crew of astronauts, has faced yet another setback. NASA announced on Friday that the return has been postponed indefinitely, as more testing and technical issues have surfaced. This delay has raised questions about when the mission’s two astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, will be able to return home.
The crewed test of the Starliner spacecraft has been plagued by a series of technical challenges and failures. The spacecraft has encountered five failures of its 28 maneuvering thrusters, five leaks of helium meant to pressurize those thrusters, and a slow-moving propellant valve. These issues have not only delayed the mission but have also raised concerns about the spacecraft’s overall reliability.
Boeing’s Starliner program has already incurred significant cost overruns, with the company spending $1.5 billion on top of its $4.5 billion NASA development contract. The program has also struggled with software glitches, design problems, and disputes with subcontractors. These issues have called into question Boeing’s ability to deliver a reliable and safe spacecraft for NASA’s astronauts.
NASA’s goal is to have multiple spacecraft capable of ferrying its astronauts to and from the ISS. SpaceX’s Crew Dragon has been the agency’s primary ride since 2020 and has proven to be a reliable option. However, Boeing’s Starliner program has struggled to keep up with the competition, facing repeated delays and technical challenges that have put its future in jeopardy.
The return of the Starliner spacecraft to Earth represents one of the most complicated phases of its test mission. NASA officials have expressed the need to better understand the root cause of the thruster failures, valve issues, and helium leaks before allowing Starliner to begin its return journey. This emphasizes the importance of thorough testing and troubleshooting to ensure the safety of the astronauts on board.
As Boeing continues to work on resolving the technical issues with the Starliner spacecraft, there are concerns about the spacecraft’s overall reliability and safety. The need for redundant systems and backup thrusters to provide “6-degrees of freedom of control” adds complexity to the spacecraft’s design. The challenges faced by Boeing’s Starliner program highlight the complexities and risks associated with human spaceflight.