NASA and Boeing still uncertain about when Starliner will return to flight

Key Points:

• NASA’s Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP) reports that despite progress in resolving issues with Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft, it may take up to a year before the vehicle flies again on the next uncrewed test mission, Starliner-1.
• The Starliner experienced thruster failures during its June 2024 Crew Flight Test (CFT) mission, leading NASA to deem it unsafe for crewed return; the spacecraft returned uncrewed in September 2024, with astronauts remaining on the ISS until March 2025.
• An independent Program Investigation Team (PIT) report found flawed decision-making and leadership during CFT and classified the mission as a “Type A” mishap, prompting NASA and Boeing to implement corrective actions, though no clear timeline for Starliner-1 launch has been set.
• Progress has been made addressing technical anomalies and organizational improvements, including enhanced coordination and communication between NASA and Boeing, but key issues like thruster failures and heating in the service module remain unresolved constraints.
• Both NASA and Boeing reaffirm their commitment to achieving Starliner’s crewed certification, with Boeing emphasizing safety and readiness, though ASAP chair Susan Helms indicated the next uncrewed flight will likely occur within the next year or so, with no formal launch date yet.