2024 has shaped up to be a disastrous year for Boeing, with the aerospace giant facing a barrage of setbacks. From airplane malfunctions to worker strikes, the company’s reputation has taken a significant hit. But perhaps the most high-profile misstep has come from Boeing’s troubled spacecraft, the Starliner, which has yet to earn its NASA certification after a series of issues, including a failed mission that left two astronauts stranded aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
The Starliner, Boeing’s entry into NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, was intended to carry astronauts to the ISS as part of a broader effort to reduce reliance on Russia’s Soyuz spacecraft. But things have not gone as planned. NASA has now decided to ground the Starliner, opting instead to rely on SpaceX’s more reliable Crew Dragon for upcoming missions while Boeing addresses the technical problems plaguing its spacecraft.
The situation reached its breaking point following a catastrophic crewed mission in June 2024. The Starliner was launched with astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunni Williams aboard for what was supposed to be an eight-day mission. Instead, the spacecraft remained docked at the ISS for three months due to numerous mechanical failures. NASA ultimately decided to bring the astronauts home aboard SpaceX’s Dragon, abandoning the Starliner in space.
According to Gizmodo, NASA has announced that Crew-10 and Crew-11 missions, scheduled for February and July 2025, will both use SpaceX’s Crew Dragon. This further delays any hope of Starliner being certified to transport crew to the ISS. NASA had initially hoped Boeing’s spacecraft would be ready for its first operational mission in early 2025, but that dream is now far from reality. The agency has said that Starliner’s next flight—possibly in 2025—will depend on whether Boeing can resolve its numerous issues.
“The timing and configuration of Starliner’s next flight will be determined once a better understanding of Boeing’s path to system certification is established,” NASA said in a statement. The agency will take into account lessons learned from the failed mission and evaluate Starliner’s operational readiness before deciding on the spacecraft’s future.
Boeing’s problems became apparent soon after the Starliner launched to the ISS on June 5, 2024. During the mission, five of the spacecraft’s thrusters failed, and it developed helium leaks. One of these leaks had already been identified prior to liftoff, raising serious questions about Boeing’s quality control. Ground teams spent weeks analyzing the situation, trying to determine whether it would be safe to return the crew aboard Starliner. Ultimately, they decided against it, opting instead to bring Wilmore and Williams back on a SpaceX Crew Dragon in February 2025, eight months after they initially launched.
This latest incident is just one of many setbacks for Boeing, which has struggled to meet the terms of its $4.3 billion contract with NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. The Starliner was first conceived in 2010, with Boeing leaning on its extensive experience building spacecraft for the Apollo project. However, delays, technical failures, and poor performance have tarnished Boeing’s legacy and caused the Starliner program to lag far behind its competitor, SpaceX.
In 2014, NASA awarded contracts to both Boeing and SpaceX to develop spacecraft capable of carrying astronauts to the ISS. At the time, Boeing was seen as the more experienced player, while SpaceX was a newcomer with much to prove. But in the years since, SpaceX has exceeded expectations, launching nine successful crewed missions to the ISS. Meanwhile, Boeing has yet to complete even a single certified flight.
The Starliner program’s problems date back to its initial test flight in 2019, which ended in failure. Although the spacecraft did reach space, it miscalculated its location due to a faulty mission timer and burned excess fuel. As a result, it never reached the ISS, forcing Boeing to schedule a second unmanned test flight in 2021. That mission fared better, but technical issues still persisted.
Despite these failures, NASA allowed Boeing to proceed with a crewed test flight in 2024. The hope was that Starliner would finally be ready to transport astronauts on a regular basis, but those hopes have since been dashed. NASA’s decision to continue grounding the spacecraft has left Boeing scrambling to fix the issues and regain the trust of the space agency.
The need for a reliable U.S.-made spacecraft became more urgent after NASA retired its Space Shuttle program in 2011, forcing the agency to rely on Russia’s Soyuz spacecraft to transport astronauts to and from the ISS. NASA invested heavily in private aerospace companies like Boeing and SpaceX to develop new crew transport vehicles, but only SpaceX has delivered on those promises.
Boeing, for its part, is now facing a long and uncertain road ahead. The company must address the Starliner’s numerous technical problems if it hopes to meet NASA’s safety standards and win back the agency’s confidence. But with SpaceX firmly established as the leader in private spaceflight, Boeing will need more than just repairs—it will need to rebuild its tarnished reputation. For now, NASA is playing it safe by sticking with SpaceX, while Boeing’s Starliner remains grounded indefinitely.
“This latest incident is just one of many setbacks for Boeing, which has struggled to meet the terms of its $4.3 billion contract with NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.”
This latest incident is just one of many setbacks for Boeing, which has FAILED to meet the terms of its $4.3 billion contract with NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.
There, fixed that statement…
All space programs “FAIL!” As my statement contends how human beings are in bigger trouble than too many of them want to admit, and it’s also all coming to a close faster and sooner than they want to admit! Defiance of God gets you “NOWHERE!”
You got a name that alludes to “Infidels” and they those Muslims who follow a false religion “political ideology” a concocted so called religion under the guise of “the nation of Islam” are pushing for their “Mahdi” to appear and bring on the “Final Mother of All Battles” and destroy this world! They like these “manic space nuts worship Satan!”
They and all who don’t take my words seriously will find out, of this I’m certain, but only when it is too late for their souls to gain everlasting life in heaven with God Almighty, unless they change course quickly, and to this truth I pray many will in Jesus’ name!
All space programs are a waste of time, effort and resources!
Mankind was not created to be shooting for the stars or even other uninhabitable planets; all that these egotistical people have proven is that they don’t respect “God’s intentions” for mankind but instead try to defy Him just like Satan did, Lucifer that fallen angel that’s been plaguing humanity since the beginning!
All of it is bullshit and Musk’s “Occupy Mars” is total lunacy from a man who uses any gifts he has to pursue madness and defiance of God!
Isaiah 14:13-15 “You said in your heart: “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God. I will sit on the mount of assembly, in the far reaches of the north. 14I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” 15But you will be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit.”
There is so much wrong here on earth with mankind that should be fixed or at least be approached with a fervent desire to try resolving our “earthy problems and madness” with “Faith in God front and center in our daily lives on earth.”
But what Musk along with many earthly leaders are focused on doing is to “pursue futile power trips and egocentric madness to be like gods!” Thus the result of humanity, being on the brink of total destruction; and its barreling at us at warp speed!
Boing problems cause one to wonder if they have personnel intentionally causing problems. They had an excellent track record until about a decade ago. I would vet every person on every critical QC team.
Friend that may very well be, but, look at what has happened to our government system and school departments, so on and so forth. The Congress doesn’t even follow the US Constitution anymore and we have oligarchs like Soros and Gates dictating actions in our systems of government, industry and commerce to suit evil globalist or masons agendas; to where now it’s obvious the United Nations should have been kicked the hell out of America decades ago. Things have been so deeply infiltrated by diabolical anti-American, anti-Human and anti-God forces that it looks more and more that cataclysmic events are just ahead for all of us, unless there is “divine intervention” and that means people have to stop being pagan, stupid participants in the “culture of death” and turn to God immediately in order for this “renegade human race” to “receive His grace,” so as to forestall the approaching storm of dire unimaginable calamity; and thus give more people time to prepare their souls for His judgment.
The problems started when large corporations cared more about social context than performing their operations and duty to the best of anyone’s ability.
Boeing should have the contract revoked at this time. There is npc purpose in it. SPaceX is light years away from Boeing capabilities and has little to no “dead limbs” in the way. The young, the BRIGHTEST and the most intent seem to work at SpaceX. The ones that believe they should earn the most and top the least and only care about the nut and bolt they are assigned to are what is left of Boeing.
I am becoming afraid to fly on a Boeing aircraft, let alone consider them qualified to be involved in space operations.
“I am becoming afraid to fly on a Boeing aircraft, let alone consider them qualified to be involved in space operations.”
Now that’s a mouthful and saying like it is; I’m of the same accord.
I feel that way about our government and pretty much any man-made endeavor these days; who’s to be truly trusted anymore with our crucial concerns or our lives?
Not to mention the Vaxxed Commercial Pilots with questionable heart health!
Absolutely right CharlieSeattle!
We have a deteriorating situation on many fronts and it must be stopped immediately.
ATP’s used to be selected from the pool of the most seasoned or best of the best qualified, many of them being former military ace pilots like they would do to find the best or those with the “Right Stuff” for the Space Program! Now not so much, and with DEI tossed into the equation what could possibly go wrong for we the flying public at typical cruising altitudes of 33,000 and 42,000 feet with a not so capable pilot at the controls! Take offs and landings being critical flight transition periods present a host of other major challenges that require steady and true hands guided by precision thinking in all possible flight scenarios under pressure!