NASA head slams Boeing and space agency for Starliner's failure : NPR
NPR • • science
Key Points:
- NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman blamed both Boeing and NASA for the failure of the Starliner spacecraft's first crewed test flight in June 2024, citing technical issues with thrusters and organizational leadership problems.
- The mission, which initially launched successfully with astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, was aborted due to multiple thruster failures preventing docking with the International Space Station, leading to the astronauts' extended stay on the station and eventual return via SpaceX's Crew Dragon.
- The failure was classified as a Type A Mishap, the highest level of mission failure, though no crew injuries occurred; the report highlighted design deficiencies and a culture of poor decision-making and risk tolerance within both Boeing and NASA.
- Isaacman pointed to leadership accountability
