NASA Has Been So Thoroughly Screwed by Boeing’s Disastrous Starliner That It’s Now Throwing Its Entire Access to Space Into Question

The Boeing Starliner spacecraft has been a complete failure for NASA, requiring extensive financial support and causing significant disruptions to the agency's access to space. Despite over a decade of development, the capsule has yet to successfully conduct a crewed mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The troubled spacecraft has endured a failed uncrewed launch attempt caused by a malfunctioning computer, an aborted mission that left two NASA astronauts stranded on board for nine months, and numerous technical challenges throughout its troubled history.

As SpaceX prepares to discontinue its Crew Dragon spacecraft, the Starliner is now at risk of becoming NASA's sole means of reaching the ISS. NASA administrator Jared Isaacman has acknowledged that SpaceX intends to retire older platforms like Falcon and Dragon, shifting focus to its next-generation Starship program. Faced with this uncertainty, NASA is considering purchasing an additional two launches on the Starliner to ensure continued access to the ISS.

Boeing's costly Starliner spacecraft is on the verge of receiving a $359 million bailout from NASA to address critical issues with its reaction control system thrusters. The agency is also in the process of certifying the United Launch Alliance's Vulcan rocket for crewed missions, with an aim to launch Starliner no earlier than December this year. NASA has three existing contracts to support crewed missions with Boeing, but the reliability of this spacecraft remains in question.

Boeing's Starliner is an awkward transition period for NASA, as the agency faces an impending retirement of the ISS by the end of the decade. The space agency is exploring potential replacements, with multiple private companies competing for lucrative government contracts to build their own orbital habitats. While NASA hopes that the Starliner could play a role in this vision, the spacecraft's troubled history casts doubt on its future success.