NASA is facing delays in its plan to send astronauts aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. The next possible crewed flight is now expected in 2025 following technical problems during the first crewed test flight earlier this year.
The exact date for the mission depends on Boeing’s fixing the issues and completing all required safety certifications.
Propulsion problems in test flight
The trouble started during the Crew Flight Test (CFT), which launched on June 5, 2023. Although the launch went smoothly, Starliner faced problems docking with the International Space Station (ISS) on June 6th.
Five of the spacecraft’s 28 thrusters malfunctioned, causing delays. The mission, which was originally scheduled for ten days, had to be extended while engineers worked on the issues. Despite these problems, NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams safely reached the ISS.
Astronauts to return on SpaceX instead of Starliner
Due to ongoing concerns pertaining to Starliner’s safety, NASA decided not to use the spacecraft to bring Wilmore and Williams back to Earth. Instead, Starliner returned alone, landing safely on September 6th.
The two astronauts will now return on a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule in February 2025. The Crew Dragon, part of SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission, launched last month with only two astronauts instead of the usual four, leaving room for Wilmore and Williams.
Recurring issues with Starliner
This isn’t the first time Boeing’s Starliner has had propulsion problems. Similar issues came up during two earlier uncrewed test flights in 2019 and 2022. Both NASA and Boeing thought those problems were fixed before the recent crewed flight.
The recurrence of these issues has led to further delays as Boeing works to ensure the spacecraft is ready for future missions.
Uncertainty surrounding future Starliner missions
Before the recent setbacks, Boeing’s Starliner was expected to go on its first operational mission, called Starliner-1, in 2025. NASA astronauts Scott Tingle and Mike Fincke, along with Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk, have been assigned to that mission.
However, NASA has not confirmed whether Starliner will need another test flight or if the Starliner-1 mission will go ahead as planned. The agency is still reviewing whether Starliner’s performance on the CFT flight meets the standards needed for future missions.
Plans for future ISS missions with SpaceX
While Boeing works to resolve Starliner’s problems, NASA is moving forward with other planned missions to the ISS. SpaceX’s Crew-10 mission is scheduled for February 2025.
The mission will include NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, along with Japanese and Russian astronauts. After that, NASA plans to send Crew-11 to the ISS, likely in July 2025. The crew for that mission has not yet been announced.
NASA and Boeing are working closely to fix the technical issues with Starliner. The goal is to ensure that the spacecraft can safely carry astronauts on future missions. NASA will continue to monitor Boeing’s progress and provide updates as more information becomes available.
