Starliner could finally launch into space this year
▼ Summary
– NASA classified Boeing’s 2024 crewed Starliner flight as a “Type A” mishap, acknowledging it as a serious failure.
– NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman stated the agency would work with Boeing to identify and remediate risks before Starliner’s next cargo mission.
– Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg reported that the redesign of Starliner’s propulsion system deficiencies is “going quite well.”
– The propulsion system issues endangered astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunny Williams, who had to return to Earth on a Crew Dragon in early 2025.
– Ortberg indicated most redesign work is complete, with the primary remaining issue being scheduling a launch date with NASA.
NASA’s partnership with Boeing on the Starliner spacecraft hit a major snag earlier this year when the agency officially labeled the 2024 crewed test flight a “Type A” mishap. That designation signaled a serious failure, and at the time, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman stated that both the space agency and Boeing were committed to identifying and fixing the root causes before any future missions could proceed. No timeline was given for the next flight, a planned cargo run to the International Space Station.
Now, signs point to real progress. During Boeing’s quarterly earnings call on Tuesday, CEO Kelly Ortberg fielded a question about Starliner and other space ventures with a notably optimistic tone. “The redesign of the Starliner deficiencies is going quite well, and we’re feeling pretty good about that,” Ortberg told analysts.
The deficiencies in question center on the propulsion system, a critical component that jeopardized the safety of NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunny Williams during Starliner’s first crewed mission. That malfunction forced the pair to return to Earth aboard a Crew Dragon capsule in early 2025, a stark detour from Boeing’s intended flight path.
Ortberg suggested that much of the redesign work is already finished. The main hurdle now, he indicated, is simply coordinating a launch date with NASA for Starliner to carry cargo to the space station. That requires an open docking port and available astronaut time to unload the supplies, making scheduling the primary bottleneck rather than any lingering technical issue.
(Source: Ars Technica)
