NASA’s Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP) reports that Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft could remain grounded for up to one year before attempting another uncrewed test flight. While Boeing and NASA continue addressing propulsion and thruster anomalies identified during the 2024 Crew Flight Test (CFT), the agency has signaled a shift in strategy by expanding SpaceX’s contract to ensure continuous International Space Station (ISS) access through 2030.
Why is the Starliner return-to-flight timeline uncertain?
According to ASAP member Kent Rominger, the primary obstacles for the next uncrewed mission, known as Starliner-1, remain unresolved technical constraints. These include persistent failures in the reaction control system thrusters and overheating within the spacecraft’s service module “doghouses.” While integrated teams have successfully closed 72 observations from the previous mission, 6 of the 28 in-flight anomalies remain open. Consequently, the panel reports that there is no firm launch date, with projections now extending into the next year.
NASA officially categorized the 2024 Crew Flight Test as a “Type A” mishap—the most serious classification—following an independent Program Investigation Team (PIT) report that cited flawed decision-making and leadership oversight.
How does Boeing’s progress compare to SpaceX?
The disparity between the two commercial crew providers has widened as Boeing works to recover from its 2024 flight anomalies. While Boeing’s Chief Aerospace Safety Officer Don Ruhmann has reaffirmed the company’s commitment to NASA, the agency has already taken steps to mitigate potential gaps in service. In a recent procurement filing, NASA announced it would add six flights to SpaceX’s existing contract. This decision was explicitly linked to the technical delays and scheduling uncertainties currently surrounding the Starliner program.
What are the next steps for Starliner certification?
NASA and Boeing are currently defining the specific safety requirements needed for the next uncrewed flight to proceed. Susan Helms, chair of the ASAP, confirmed that while the path forward is measured in the “next year or so,” the objective remains full crewed certification. Current efforts focus on improving internal communication and coordination between NASA mission managers and Boeing leadership to ensure that future mission-readiness reviews meet the agency’s established safety thresholds.
Pro Tips for Tracking Spaceflight Milestones
- Monitor Official Filings: Procurement databases often provide earlier indicators of agency strategy than public press releases.
- Follow Advisory Panels: The Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP) provides the most granular, publicly available technical assessments of NASA’s commercial programs.
- Watch for “Close-out” Metrics: The number of open “in-flight anomalies” is the key metric to watch for determining when a vehicle is nearing flight readiness.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Will Starliner fly again with a crew?
- NASA and Boeing maintain that the goal is to achieve crewed certification, though no formal date has been set for the next uncrewed or crewed mission.
- Why did NASA add more SpaceX flights?
- NASA cited technical issues and schedule delays encountered by Boeing as the primary reasons for expanding SpaceX’s contract to ensure ISS operations through 2030.
- What were the main issues during the 2024 Starliner flight?
- The spacecraft experienced multiple thruster failures on its approach to the ISS and encountered overheating in the service module thruster housings.
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