Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft has hit another snag, forcing NASA to push its next crewed test flight to late 2025 at the earliest. The delay comes after engineers found multiple issues during the spacecraft’s troubled June 2024 mission, which left two astronauts stranded on the International Space Station for months.
Commercial Crew Program’s Rocky Road
NASA originally tapped both Boeing and SpaceX in 2014 to develop crew capsules under its Commercial Crew Program. While SpaceX’s Crew Dragon completed its uncrewed and crewed test flights by mid-2020 and has since become NASA’s primary astronaut taxi, Boeing’s Starliner has faced repeated setbacks.
The spacecraft’s checkered history includes:
- A failed 2019 uncrewed test where it burned too much fuel
- A 2022 retry that succeeded despite thruster failures
- This year’s crewed test cut short by helium leaks and propulsion problems
Technical Troubles Mount
Post-flight inspections revealed fresh concerns with both hardware and software systems. NASA engineers are now focusing on:
- Fixing thruster performance issues
- Addressing control panel software glitches
- Upgrading the thermal module
Testing for these fixes is scheduled throughout spring and summer 2025. Only after these checks will NASA greenlight another crewed demonstration mission, tentatively planned for late 2025 or early 2026.
Financial and Strategic Stakes
Boeing has already burned through $2 billion in overruns on its $4.5 billion NASA contract. With the ISS scheduled for retirement in 2030 and SpaceX securing additional crew flight contracts through that date, some question whether continuing Starliner development makes financial sense.
However, NASA maintains that having two operational crew vehicles provides critical redundancy. The agency also values the technological knowledge Boeing gains through the program, which could prove useful for future space initiatives.
What’s Next
For now, NASA astronauts will continue riding SpaceX’s Dragon to orbit. Boeing’s team faces a tight schedule to implement fixes and complete testing before their next shot at proving Starliner’s readiness. The coming months will determine whether this troubled spacecraft can finally earn its wings.