Boeing's technical and financial problems with its Starliner capsule have cast doubt on the future of the company's space program. Since its creation, Starliner has faced multiple challenges that have delayed its development and operation, resulting in multimillion-dollar cost overruns.
Despite the efforts made by Boeing, The Starliner spacecraft has been plagued by constant technical failures, which has caused NASA to turn to alternative solutions to maintain its operations. Instead of continuing to rely on the Starliner, the space agency has opted to use SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule on several missions that were originally intended for the Boeing craft.
Technical failures and cost overruns: a history of delays
The Starliner program, developed by Boeing with the purpose of transporting astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS), has been plagued by technical incidents since its first flight in 2019During the first attempt at unmanned flight, a glitch in the timing system prevented the craft from reaching the correct orbit, resulting in additional testing and a significant delay in the program.
Although a second unmanned mission was successfully completed in 2022 and Starliner managed to dock with the ISS, problems persist. NASA has reported that Starliner has presented Helium leaks and failures in reaction control thrusters, which reduced confidence in the craft for manned flights.
In addition to technical problems, the company has faced Cost overruns that already amount to more than 1.800 billion dollars, which has depleted Boeing's finances and raised questions about the viability of the Starliner project.
Trapped astronauts and cancelled missions
The most recent technical disaster occurred when two NASA astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, were “trapped” in the International Space Station following the failure of the Starliner. The ship failed in its attempt to return to Earth, forcing NASA to make a difficult decision: rather than risk the lives of astronauts again on a damaged ship, the agency opted to postpone its return until the astronauts are sufficiently prepared to return aboard a SpaceX capsule.
To avoid further inconvenience, NASA decided that Wilmore and Williams will return in February 2025 with SpaceX's Crew-9 missionMeanwhile, astronauts have taken on additional responsibilities on the ISS, performing scientific experiments and maintenance tasks. Wilmore was even named commander of the expedition.
NASA relies on SpaceX to replace Starliner on key missions
In the face of continuing problems, NASA has decided that SpaceX to be primary provider for future astronaut rotation missions to the ISS. Missions that were previously scheduled to be flown on Starliner, such as Crew-10 and Crew-11, will now be flown on SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule.
The Starliner-1 flight, which was initially scheduled for August 2025, remains uncertain. NASA has already expressed doubts about whether the craft will be ready by that date, further complicating Boeing's situation. While there is still time to make a final decision, NASA is not fully confident that Starliner meets the safety requirements necessary for transporting astronauts.
Boeing mulls sale of space division
Faced with this discouraging outlook, Boeing's financial situation has led the company to consider selling its space divisionThe company's new leadership, led by CEO Kelly Ortberg, is reviewing all of the company's divisions to identify which are profitable and which are not. Among the divisions in danger of being dismantled is the Starliner division.
Although no final decision has been made, parting ways with Starliner could free Boeing from a project that has accumulated huge financial lossesThe company has reportedly lost more than $250 million in the third quarter of 2024 alone due to the Starliner failure.
Ortberg has expressed his intention to streamline operations and concentrate resources Boeing's commercial aviation and defense business, putting the continuity of the company's space program at risk.
The uncertain future of the Starliner program
With all these setbacks and SpaceX's resounding success in transporting astronauts, the future of the Starliner spacecraft is increasingly in question. NASA has already carried out numerous risk assessments and has repeatedly postponed the launch of the ship's first operational mission, which was initially planned for early 2025. The test flight failure has further delayed Starliner certification, and Boeing is struggling to meet the requirements set out.
Despite all the obstacles, Boeing continues to claim that it is committed to the success of Starliner and will continue to work on its development. However, the constant problems and the advance of its competitors, such as SpaceX, cast doubt on the viability of Starliner in the future of space transportation.
Boeing’s Starliner program has been not only a technical challenge, but a financial one as well. Hopes that the craft would compete with SpaceX’s Crew Dragon have faded, and the company faces tough decisions about the future of its space division. With NASA relying more on SpaceX for key missions, Boeing will need to rethink its strategy if it wants to stay in the increasingly competitive and demanding space race.