'We almost did have a really terrible day.' NASA now says Boeing's 1st Starliner astronaut flight was a 'Type A mishap'
Space • • science
Key Points:
- NASA has reclassified Boeing's Starliner Crew Flight Test (CFT) mission as a "Type A mishap," the most serious category, comparable to the Challenger and Columbia space shuttle disasters, due to multiple thruster failures and loss of precise control during the mission.
- Despite reaching the ISS safely, Starliner experienced significant technical issues, including thruster failures and propulsion problems during reentry, leading NASA to extend the astronauts' stay aboard the ISS and ultimately return the spacecraft uncrewed.
- NASA acknowledged that concerns over Starliner's program reputation initially prevented the mission from being classified as a Type A mishap, admitting that program advocacy compromised safety considerations and created a culture of mistrust.
- An independent investigation into the CFT issues was
