Boeing's Starliner spacecraft safely touched down on September 7, 2024, following an uncrewed mission that has brought renewed focus on the spacecraft's challenges.
Details of the Landing
Starliner touched down safely at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico on September 7, 2024, at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time. This marked the end of an uncrewed mission following its departure from the International Space Station. The spacecraft used parachutes to ensure a controlled descent, with NASA officials praising the precision of the landing, describing it as a "bullseye." White Sands, known for its open desert landscape, has long served as a landing site for space missions, providing an ideal environment for safe recovery operations.
Ongoing Technical Challenges and Delays
Starliner’s most recent mission was marred by several technical problems, the most significant being failures in the spacecraft’s thrusters and helium leaks that occurred shortly after launch in June 2024. Initially, the mission included plans to bring astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams back to Earth. However, as NASA engineers examined the situation, they deemed the thruster malfunctions too risky for a crewed descent. Although Boeing expressed confidence in the spacecraft’s performance, NASA remained cautious, choosing to postpone the astronauts’ return and rely on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon for their eventual journey back.
In response to the issues, Ken Bowersox, NASA’s associate administrator for Space Operations, emphasized the importance of the lessons learned during the mission: “Even though it was necessary to return the spacecraft uncrewed, NASA and Boeing learned an incredible amount about Starliner in the most extreme environment possible.” This cautious approach by NASA underscores the complexity of space missions and highlights the high safety standards required for crewed spaceflight.
NASA's Focus on Safety and SpaceX’s Role in Astronaut Transport
The decision to delay Wilmore and Williams' return on Starliner was driven by concerns over the reaction control system (RCS) thrusters, five of which failed during the mission. These malfunctions raised significant concerns about whether the spacecraft could safely navigate the reentry process. Despite Boeing’s efforts to test and troubleshoot the issues in space, NASA officials remained unconvinced, opting for a more reliable option: SpaceX’s Crew Dragon.
The astronauts are now scheduled to return in early 2025 aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, a spacecraft that has successfully completed several crewed missions to the ISS since 2020. The decision to rely on SpaceX for this task reflects NASA’s strategy of leveraging proven technology to ensure the safety of its astronauts while giving Boeing additional time to resolve Starliner’s technical issues.
NASA remains committed to supporting both SpaceX and Boeing as key players in its commercial crew program. “NASA looks forward to our continued work with the Boeing team to proceed toward certification of Starliner for crew rotation missions to the space station,” Bowersox stated, reaffirming the agency’s long-term vision of having multiple companies capable of ferrying astronauts to and from the ISS.
Addressing the Technical Issues that Continue to Delay Starliner
Despite the safe uncrewed return, Starliner’s thruster overheating remains a significant challenge. The overheating appears to be caused by heat retention in protective enclosures, known as “doghouses,” surrounding the thrusters. This design flaw could cause the seals to swell, blocking the flow of propellant. NASA and Boeing are working to address these issues through software adjustments and potential modifications to the thermal insulation.
NASA’s Steve Stich, manager of the Commercial Crew Program, highlighted the importance of tackling these technical challenges before the spacecraft can be certified for regular crewed missions. “We’ve got some things we know we’ve got to go work on,” Stich said, emphasizing that additional testing will be crucial. Although Starliner’s next mission is tentatively planned for August 2025, further delays are possible depending on the results of ongoing investigations and tests.
NASA and Boeing will need to conduct thorough reviews of the spacecraft’s systems to ensure that the reaction control system (RCS) thrusters can function reliably during reentry. Additionally, teams are exploring the possibility of reducing the demand on the thrusters through software modifications and evaluating changes to the spacecraft’s thermal blankets to mitigate overheating.
The Path Forward for Boeing and NASA
NASA’s Commercial Crew Program was designed to encourage competition and reduce reliance on any single provider for astronaut transportation. While SpaceX’s Crew Dragon has already flown numerous successful missions, Boeing’s Starliner remains a critical part of NASA’s plans to maintain redundancy in the program. However, the ongoing technical challenges raise questions about Boeing’s timeline for certification and its ability to keep pace with SpaceX.
Despite the setbacks, NASA remains optimistic about Starliner’s potential. “We are excited to have Starliner home safely,” Steve Stich commented. “There was a lot of valuable learning that will enable our long-term success.” This focus on continuous improvement highlights NASA’s commitment to both Boeing and SpaceX as it looks to the future of U.S. space exploration.
Boeing and NASA will now focus on resolving the remaining issues with Starliner’s systems, with the aim of conducting another crewed test flight in the coming years. While there is still much work to be done, both organizations are confident that Starliner will eventually join SpaceX as a reliable option for ferrying astronauts to the ISS and beyond.