NASA’s Starliner Crisis: What’s Next?

Boeing Starliner’s Woes Threaten NASA’s Space Plans

Boeing’s Starliner was meant to fly NASA astronauts to space. But it’s stuck on Earth. Technical issues keep piling up. And NASA is worried. So, what’s going wrong? Let’s dive in.
First, Starliner had a rough start. In 2019, its first test flight failed. The onboard clock was wrong. Thrusters fired too early. It never reached the International Space Station (ISS). Then, in 2022, a second test worked better. But some thrusters still failed. NASA thought these issues were fixed. However, new problems appeared.
In 2023, Boeing found flammable tape in the wiring. The parachutes were also weak. These delayed the first crewed flight. By May 2024, a faulty valve stopped a launch. And a helium leak in the propulsion system caused more trouble. On June 5, 2024, astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams finally launched. But five thrusters misfired during docking. NASA delayed their return. After months of tests, they decided it was too risky. Starliner came back uncrewed on September 7, 2024. The astronauts returned via SpaceX’s Crew Dragon in March 2025.
Why is this a big deal? NASA’s Commercial Crew Program needs two providers. SpaceX’s Crew Dragon has flown since 2020. It’s reliable. Boeing got $4.2 billion to build Starliner. SpaceX got $2.6 billion. Yet, Boeing’s costs ballooned by $1.85 billion. Meanwhile, SpaceX has flown 10 crewed missions. Boeing’s delays hurt NASA’s plan to split ISS trips.
What’s next? NASA is testing Starliner’s thrusters at White Sands, New Mexico. They want to know why they failed. But the next flight is delayed to 2026. Some say another test flight is needed. Others think Boeing can fix it for a crewed mission. Either way, trust is low.
Here’s a timeline of Starliner’s troubles:
Timeline Graph Highlight
Year Event
2019 Failed uncrewed test flight (clock issue)
2022 Second test docks with ISS, thruster issues
2023 Flammable tape, weak parachutes found
2024 Crewed flight launches, thruster failures
2025 Uncrewed return, next flight delayed to 2026
(This graph is mobile and computer-friendly. Picture a line with dots for each year.)

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Boeing’s struggles aren’t new. Their 737 Max had issues too. But NASA needs them. “We’re committed,” said NASA’s Steve Stich. Yet, doubts remain. Will Starliner ever fly regularly? Or will SpaceX dominate?
Read more at reuters
This affects everyone. From Asia to Africa, North America to Australia, even Europe and South America, space fans watch closely. Kids dream of stars. Adults want safe flights. Visit https://america112.com/ for updates.