NASA formally declared the Boeing Starliner Crew Flight Test a “Type A mishap” on Thursday, citing significant technical difficulties encountered during the mission and acknowledging programmatic missteps within the agency. The announcement, made at a press conference, follows a detailed investigation into the June 5, 2024 launch and subsequent challenges faced by astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams as they traveled to the International Space Station (ISS).
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman stated that the agency permitted overarching programmatic objectives – specifically, the desire to have two independent providers capable of crewed space transport – to unduly influence engineering and operational decisions. “To undertake missions that change the world, we must be transparent about both our successes and our shortcomings,” Isaacman said. “We have to own our mistakes and ensure they never happen again.”
The investigation focused on issues that arose during the Starliner’s approach and docking with the ISS. According to NASA, thruster malfunctions presented a significant risk, prompting a cautious approach to the station. Even as the crew ultimately reached the ISS safely, the incident highlighted vulnerabilities in the spacecraft’s systems. The Starliner docked to the Harmony module’s forward port on July 3, 2024, as seen from the SpaceX Dragon Endeavour spacecraft.
The Starliner spacecraft, designed to carry up to seven crew members to and from low Earth orbit, has faced a protracted development process. Its first uncrewed launch occurred in December 2019, but subsequent tests revealed numerous issues. The June 2024 crewed flight test was intended to demonstrate the spacecraft’s readiness for routine operational missions. The spacecraft has a design life of 60 hours in free flight and seven months when docked to the ISS.
Associate Administrator Amit Kshatriya emphasized the need for accountability and corrective action. NASA is now focused on implementing changes to prevent similar issues from occurring in the future. The agency has not yet announced a timeline for the Starliner’s return to flight, stating that it will only resume missions when the spacecraft is fully ready. The Boeing Starliner is launched on an Atlas V N22 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 41 in Florida.
The declaration of a Type A mishap signifies the severity of the incident and triggers a comprehensive review of safety protocols and engineering practices. NASA’s investigation team examined the entire mission profile, from launch to docking and subsequent operations, to identify the root causes of the problems encountered. The report released Thursday details those findings and outlines a path forward for addressing the identified deficiencies.
NASA will stream live on its YouTube channel to discuss the findings of investigations into the 2024 crewed test flight of Boeing Starliner to the International Space Station.
