NASA Might Mandate Boeing's Starliner for Third Uncrewed Test

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Title: Boeing’s Starliner Capsule Faces Setbacks Before Astronaut Missions

A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket launched on June 5, 2024, from Cape Canaveral, Florida, with Boeing’s Starliner-1 Crew Flight Test (CFT) aboard, carrying two NASA astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS). However, recent updates indicate more challenges for the Starliner program.

Last year, Boeing’s Starliner capsule, which had successfully ferried two NASA astronauts to the ISS, may require an additional uncrewed test flight before it can carry astronauts again, NASA officials have revealed. This comes as the two astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, returned to Earth this week aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule after an extended stay in space due to complications with the Starliner’s propulsion system.

The Starliner’s debut crewed mission was hindered by propulsion system failures that caused what was supposed to be an eight-day mission to stretch into a nine-month residency at the ISS. This marks a significant setback in Boeing’s efforts, which have already seen the aerospace giant spend over $2 billion on the Starliner program. With Boeing attempting to establish a competitive foothold against SpaceX’s dominant Crew Dragon capsule, the delays have raised concerns about its future capabilities.

Before securing much-anticipated NASA certification for regular crew transportation missions, Boeing might need to conduct a fourth uncrewed test of the Starliner, following two successful uncrewed flights in 2019 and 2022. Steve Stich, head of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program overseeing Starliner development, told reporters, "We’re assessing some options for Starliner, including the possibility of an uncrewed flight." He emphasized the significance of this flight to validate the performance of the capsule’s thrusters, which cannot be effectively tested in Earth-based simulations.

Stich noted that while the previous crewed mission accomplished important testing goals, the propulsion issues remain an unresolved concern. Boeing plans to conduct ground tests in the summer to evaluate the propulsion system components.

In addition to the ongoing technical challenges, the financial implications of the Starliner program continue to grow. From its inception in 2016, Boeing has incurred about $2 billion in costs, with the overall budget for the development and missions increasing by approximately $326 million under its $4.2 billion fixed-price NASA contract. In contrast, SpaceX’s Crew Dragon has successfully completed 11 astronaut missions for NASA, with the value of SpaceX’s initial $3 billion contract increasing to nearly $5 billion, largely due to additional missions amid Starliner’s delays.

Looking toward the future, Boeing is also eyeing opportunities for Starliner to serve as a transport option for commercially built space stations currently in development, which could help generate non-government revenue similar to SpaceX’s fully private Dragon missions. While progress has been made, the road ahead for Boeing’s Starliner remains fraught with challenges as the industry watches closely for the next steps in this high-stakes space endeavor.