NASA has suspended all future space missions involving Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft following a series of technical failures that left two astronauts stranded aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The incident, which took place earlier this year, has dealt another blow to Boeing’s space program as the agency now shifts focus to Elon Musk’s SpaceX for future crewed missions.
At a glance:
- NASA has halted Boeing’s Starliner missions after the spacecraft malfunctioned, leaving two astronauts stranded on the ISS.
- SpaceX will now take the lead in NASA’s 2025 launches, as Boeing faces delays in certification for crewed missions.
- The two stranded astronauts, Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore, are scheduled to return to Earth aboard SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission in February 2025, after spending eight months in space.
The decision to suspend Boeing’s space missions comes after Starliner, a spacecraft developed under a $4.3 billion contract with NASA, experienced several failures during a mission in July. Astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore, who launched aboard Starliner in June, were supposed to spend only eight days on the ISS. However, Starliner’s technical issues—ranging from helium leaks to thruster failures—resulted in the spacecraft remaining docked at the ISS for over three months. NASA ultimately decided that it was too risky to bring the astronauts back to Earth aboard Starliner, leading to a delay in their return until February 2025.
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NASA has emphasized that the halt in Boeing’s missions will allow the agency to gain a better understanding of what went wrong with the spacecraft during its failed mission. According to NASA, the timing of Starliner’s next flight will depend on when Boeing can achieve system certification, which remains uncertain. NASA also stated that lessons from the crewed test flight will be incorporated into the certification process, but it’s unclear whether Boeing will be able to fly crewed missions again anytime soon.
For now, SpaceX has emerged as NASA’s preferred partner for future launches. With a proven track record of successfully ferrying astronauts to and from the ISS, SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission, launched on September 28, will bring Williams and Wilmore back to Earth in February 2025, extending their stay in space to eight months.
Boeing’s Starliner program has been plagued by setbacks for years, and this latest incident is another blow to its reputation. Despite Boeing’s established presence in the aerospace industry, SpaceX has quickly overtaken its competitor, already completing nine crewed missions to the ISS. Meanwhile, Boeing has yet to receive full certification for its first operational mission.
For Williams and Wilmore, their extended stay aboard the ISS has been challenging, both for the astronauts and their families. Wilmore expressed disappointment over missing key family moments, including his youngest daughter’s senior year in high school. Williams also shared the emotional difficulty of being away from her husband and two dogs for such an extended period. Despite the challenges, both astronauts remain focused on their mission and look forward to their eventual return to Earth.
NASA’s decision to prioritize SpaceX over Boeing reflects the growing confidence in Musk’s company, which has emerged as a leader in the commercial space race. Boeing, on the other hand, faces a long road ahead as it works to resolve the technical issues that have hindered Starliner’s progress and regain NASA’s trust.