Boeing’s plagued Starliner spacecraft is facing an uncertain future as technical issues, delays, and budget overruns continue to mount, leading NASA and industry experts to question the viability of the project.Futurism reports that the Boeing Starliner spacecraft, once touted as a critical component of NASA’s Commercial Crew program, is now facing the possibility of cancellation due to a series of technical mishaps, supply chain issues, and years of delays. The troubled capsule is returning empty-handed from its latest mission, with NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams planning to catch a ride back to Earth on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon instead.
The decision to abandon Starliner mid-mission is a significant blow to Boeing, which has been battling with the spacecraft’s development for years. Since 2016, the project has exceeded its budget by a staggering $1.6 billion, according to a report by Rooters. This latest setback has raised doubts among analysts and industry experts about whether Starliner will ever fly again.
Former NASA deputy administrator Lori Garver expressed uncertainty about the future of the project, telling Rooters, "I am not sure the decision will ultimately be NASA’s. Boeing is going to have to foot much of this bill, as they have been." When asked about the possibility of Starliner’s cancellation, a Boeing spokesperson did not directly address the issue, stating only that the company is focusing on the safety of the crew and spacecraft and preparing for an uncrewed return.
Adding to Boeing’s woes, a recent report by NASA’s inspector general found that the company’s contributions to the agency’s Moonbound Space Launch System are also years behind schedule and significantly over budget. This, combined with controversies surrounding Boeing’s passenger jet business and recent executive shakeups, has put the company under increased scrutiny.
The failure of Starliner’s first crewed test flight has denied NASA the confidence it needed to certify the spacecraft for regular crew rotation missions to the International Space Station. The space agency had hoped that Starliner would provide redundancy in case SpaceX’s Crew Dragon experienced any issues. Instead, persistent gas leaks and thruster problems have cast doubt on the spacecraft’s reliability.
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