NASA’s Decision to Bring Boeing’s Starliner Spacecraft Back to Earth Uncrewed Casts Shadow on the Company’s Space Future

NASA has decided to bring Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft back to Earth without astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams aboard. This decision, announced by the agency on Saturday, underlines the growing concerns surrounding the Starliner program—a program that was once heralded as the future of American spaceflight but now teeters on the brink of obsolescence.

Boeing’s Starliner, which was meant to symbolize a new era of space travel, has instead become a cautionary tale. Initially launched with great fanfare and billions in government funding, the spacecraft has faced one setback after another.

Ten years ago next month, NASA awarded a significant portion of its funding to Boeing, one of its most trusted and experienced contractors, as part of an ambitious effort to end the agency’s reliance on Russia for transporting astronauts to and from low-Earth orbit.

At the time, Boeing secured a $4.2 billion contract from NASA to complete the development of its Starliner spacecraft and to conduct at least two, and potentially up to six, operational crew flights to rotate astronauts between Earth and the International Space Station (ISS). SpaceX was awarded a $2.6 billion contract for a similar scope of work, marking the beginning of a competitive era in commercial spaceflight.

SpaceX, under the leadership of Elon Musk, has redefined the possibilities of commercial space travel. Its spacecraft, Dragon, has become a symbol of reliability and innovation, consistently performing successful missions that include delivering both crew and cargo to the ISS. SpaceX has already completed its contracted missions with NASA and continues to support ISS operations.

Now, as Boeing’s spacecraft returns uncrewed, the question on everyone’s mind is whether Boeing can recover from this latest setback—or if the Starliner program is destined to be a costly footnote in the history of human spaceflight.

Boeing’s Bumpy Road: From Helium Leaks to Thruster Failures

The decision to return the Starliner without its crew is not without precedent. Since its June 6 arrival at the ISS, the spacecraft has encountered a series of technical failures, including helium leaks and issues with its reaction control thrusters. These problems have cast a long shadow over the mission, with NASA engineers expressing concern that the spacecraft might not be able to safely return to Earth with astronauts aboard.

“Spaceflight is risky, even at its safest and most routine. A test flight, by nature, is neither safe, nor routine. The decision to keep Butch and Suni aboard the International Space Station and bring Boeing’s Starliner home uncrewed is the result of our commitment to safety: our core value and our North Star,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.

The Starliner’s troubles are rooted in design flaws that have plagued the program from the beginning. The spacecraft’s thrusters, housed in four doghouse-shaped propulsion pods, have been operating at higher temperatures than they were designed for, leading to overheating and failures. This issue, compounded by a Teflon seal problem in the thrusters, has raised serious questions about the spacecraft’s reliability.

These technical issues are not isolated incidents. The Starliner has a history of problems, dating back to its first test flight in 2019, which was cut short due to software errors. Subsequent missions have been marred by delays and additional technical difficulties, including a nearly year-long delay due to corroded valves in the propulsion system. The current mission, which was supposed to demonstrate the spacecraft’s readiness for crewed flights, has instead highlighted the ongoing challenges Boeing faces in delivering a reliable spacecraft and safe space mission.

NASA said Wilmore and Williams will continue their work formally as part of the Expedition 71/72 crew through February 2025.

“They will fly home aboard a Dragon spacecraft with two other crew members assigned to the agency’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission. Starliner is expected to depart from the space station and make a safe, controlled autonomous re-entry and landing in early September,” the agency stated.

Against the backdrop of Boeing’s failures, NASA’s decision to rely on SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft to bring Wilmore and Williams home underscores the agency’s lack of confidence in the Starliner. SpaceX, which has now successfully completed eight crewed missions to the ISS, has become NASA’s go-to partner for human spaceflight. In contrast, Boeing’s Starliner, once seen as a rival to SpaceX’s Dragon, is struggling to prove its worth.

The consequences of this decision extend beyond the immediate mission. Boeing’s ability to fulfill its commercial crew contract with NASA is now in question. With the ISS scheduled to retire in 2030, there is little time left for Boeing to complete the six operational crew rotation missions it was contracted to deliver. As it stands, NASA has only placed firm orders for three of these missions, reflecting the agency’s uncertainty about the Starliner’s future.

Boeing’s Multibillion-Dollar Gamble Takes A Financial Toll

Boeing’s financial investment in the Starliner program has been substantial. The company has already reported $1.6 billion in charges due to delays and cost overruns, and that figure is expected to grow as Boeing works to address the spacecraft’s ongoing technical issues. Under the terms of its fixed-price contract with NASA, Boeing is responsible for covering the costs of these fixes, adding to the financial strain on the company.

The Starliner program was once seen as a cornerstone of Boeing’s space portfolio, a program that would secure the company’s place in the future of human spaceflight. Unfortunately, it has become a costly and problematic endeavor instead.

What’s Next for NASA and Boeing?

NASA’s decision to return the Starliner without its crew raises broader questions about the future of human spaceflight. The agency’s commercial crew program was designed to foster competition and innovation by partnering with both Boeing and SpaceX. However, as SpaceX continues to deliver successful missions, Boeing’s struggles have cast doubt on the viability of a two-provider model.

Looking ahead, NASA and Boeing will need to determine whether another test flight is necessary before the Starliner can be certified for operational use. If the spacecraft is grounded for an extended period, NASA may have no choice but to rely solely on SpaceX for crewed missions to the ISS. This would mark a significant shift in the agency’s strategy, which has always emphasized the importance of having multiple providers to ensure redundancy and competition.

The Challenges Facing Starliner

Starliner’s issues began as it approached the International Space Station (ISS) in June, where five of its 28 reaction control system thrusters overheated and failed. These problems raise concerns about the spacecraft’s ability to safely return to Earth, leading NASA to opt for an uncrewed return to gather more data and assess necessary improvements.

Boeing’s Starliner program, once seen as a cornerstone of NASA’s commercial crew program, now faces an uncertain future. The company has already incurred $1.6 billion in charges due to delays and cost overruns. With NASA’s decision, Boeing is likely to incur additional costs to address the thruster issues.

What Does The Future Hold For Starliner?

This development has made the future of Starliner uncertain. Even if Boeing resolves the current issues, Starliner may not fly astronauts again until 2026, leaving limited time to fulfill its contract before the ISS is decommissioned.

As NASA moves towards developing commercial space stations, Boeing’s ability to participate in this future depends heavily on resolving Starliner’s issues. If successful, Starliner could play a role in transporting crew to private space stations.

However, if the ISS is retired in 2030 without extending its life, Starliner’s future could be in jeopardy, potentially marking the end of Boeing’s involvement in commercial human spaceflight.