The botched test flight of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft—an event that extended the time of two astronauts in space far beyond initial expectations—has been described as a debacle comparable to the US space shuttle disasters, which resulted in loss of life. This assessment derives from a newly released NASA investigation into the ordeal, reports BritPanorama.
While the crewed Starliner mission did not result in fatalities, the investigation uncovered critical vulnerabilities within the spacecraft’s propulsion system and pointed to shortcomings in NASA’s oversight model and the culture surrounding commercial human spaceflight. The report, published by NASA, categorized the event as a “Type A” mishap—an incident defined as causing more than $2 million in damage, loss of control, or loss of life. This classification aligns Starliner with the infamous Columbia and Challenger disasters.
Nasa Administrator Jared Isaacman addressed the incident during a Thursday news conference, criticizing the decision to launch the Starliner with a crew aboard under the circumstances. “It’s decision-making and leadership that, if left unchecked, could create a culture incompatible with human spaceflight,” he stated.
The report emphasized that the Starliner test flight suffered from significant flaws early in its mission, including helium leaks and thruster failures. These issues led NASA to conclude the spacecraft was unsafe for the return of astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, who ultimately remained in orbit for over nine months before returning via a different spacecraft.
Isaacman pointed out that root causes for the Starliner’s problems remain elusive, stating that previous investigations fell short of identifying the direct causes and instead treated issues as unexplained anomalies. He further criticized the internal disagreements over crew return options during the mission, describing them as “unprofessional conduct,” with reports of emotionally charged meetings that hindered productive decision-making.
In its statement, Boeing expressed a commitment to overcoming challenges related to the Starliner program and acknowledged the importance of NASA’s investigations. “In the 18 months since our test flight, Boeing has made substantial progress on corrective actions for technical challenges we encountered and driven significant cultural changes across the team that directly align with the findings in the report.”
The issues surrounding Starliner underscore ongoing concerns regarding Boeing’s broader reputation in the aerospace sector, as the company has faced multiple scandals in recent years. The implications of this incident will likely resonate well into the future as NASA continues its efforts to ensure the safety and reliability of commercial spaceflight.
