NASA inspector general suggests Boeing's Starliner will now be a decade late
Summary
NASA’s inspector general reported that Boeing’s Starliner crew capsule is unlikely to be certified for regular flights to the International Space Station (ISS) until next year. This delay means Starliner will be about ten years late compared to its original 2017 target, and there are still unresolved technical problems to fix.Key Facts
- Starliner is expected to be ready for crew missions to the ISS in 2025, close to the planned ISS retirement in 2030.
- The first crewed test flight in 2024 had about 100 technical issues; astronauts had to stay nine months on the ISS because the capsule was not reliable to return them.
- NASA and Boeing agreed to six recommendations from the inspector general to improve the schedule and fix problems.
- Big issues still under investigation include helium leaks, overheating thrusters, and parachute performance.
- The Starliner-1 cargo flight launch date is not set and may be delayed past 2027.
- Boeing’s Starliner started development under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program alongside SpaceX’s Crew Dragon.
- SpaceX’s Crew Dragon began regular ISS crew flights in 2020, while Starliner has faced multiple delays.
- Earlier test flights for Starliner included a failed 2019 uncrewed mission and a success in 2022 after redesigns.
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