NASA Delays Boeing Starliner Operations Until 2026 Following Test Flight

The Boeing CST-100 Starliner, designed for NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, has encountered significant challenges that have delayed its operations. Following a crewed test flight in June 2024, the capsule was forced to return to Earth due to technical failures, including helium leaks and thruster malfunctions. As a result, NASA has announced that the Starliner will remain grounded until approximately 2026, with its next mission likely to be uncrewed.

Technical Setbacks and Grounding

During the June 2024 Crew Flight Test, the Starliner faced critical propulsion issues. NASA reported multiple helium leaks in the service module’s pressurization system, alongside the failure of five out of the capsule’s 28 fine-control thrusters during its approach to the International Space Station (ISS). In light of these complications, NASA extended the astronauts’ stay aboard the ISS while engineers investigated the root causes of the failures, which were traced to thermal and seal issues within the thruster enclosures.

Ultimately, NASA made the decision to return the Starliner to Earth without its crew, concluding the test flight prematurely. Since then, both NASA and Boeing have engaged in extensive ground testing to address the identified problems. Engineers at NASA’s White Sands facility have been conducting thruster firings in various sequences to improve thermal models. Additionally, Boeing has implemented new insulation shunts and thermal barriers in the thruster housings to mitigate overheating risks.

Future of the Starliner Program

The delays experienced by Boeing have significantly impacted NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. Officials indicate that Starliner may undergo one more uncrewed test flight before it is cleared to carry astronauts. The development of the Starliner has exceeded its initial budget, with costs ballooning from the original $4.2 billion contract to an estimated additional $2 billion. In contrast, SpaceX’s Crew Dragon has successfully completed 11 crew missions to the ISS, with its NASA contract nearing $5 billion due to additional flights while Starliner has faced setbacks.

Despite these challenges, NASA continues to regard Starliner as an essential backup to the Crew Dragon. The agency aims to certify the Starliner for crew rotations by late 2025 or early 2026, ensuring that it remains a viable option for future space missions.

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