Boeing Encounters New Issues with Starliner Capsule, Postpones First Crewed Launch

Boeing has faced yet another setback as it indefinitely postpones the launch of its Starliner capsule, originally scheduled for next month and intended to carry humans for the first time. Engineers discovered several concerning problems, including the use of flammable adhesive tape spanning “hundreds of feet” and defects within the spacecraft’s parachute system. NPR.org reported that Boeing announced these findings during a hastily-arranged news conference with NASA officials.

This delay adds to the series of challenges Boeing has encountered, leading to years of development setbacks and a failure to execute its initial crewed Starliner mission. Following the retirement of the space shuttle in 2011, NASA sought an alternative means of transporting individuals to and from the International Space Station (ISS). In 2014, NASA awarded Boeing over $4 billion through its Commercial Crew program to construct the capsule. Concurrently, SpaceX was also chosen by NASA to develop and design a competing system, which has already successfully launched humans into space on ten occasions, including seven missions for NASA.

Starliner has undergone two flights to date. The first mission in 2019 failed to reach the ISS due to an onboard clock malfunction. The second test flight in 2022 successfully docked with the ISS and was deemed a triumph. Boeing had been working towards a July 21 launch to transport two NASA astronauts to the ISS. However, this mission has faced multiple delays, and the latest setback is a cause for concern.

Shortly before the scheduled launch, Boeing managers discovered that the adhesive tape used to secure and protect extensive wiring inside the capsule could pose a flammability risk under specific circumstances. Additionally, the lines connecting the capsule to its three parachutes were not as robust as Boeing had anticipated. During landing, there was a potential risk of some of the lines snapping, which could endanger the crew. Although Starliner is designed to land using only two parachutes, a failure of one parachute could have resulted in the failure of the others.

Mark Nappi, Boeing vice president and Starliner program manager, emphasized that safety is their utmost priority, driving their decision to stand down. He informed reporters that the company will dedicate the upcoming weeks to investigating the design issues and developing potential solutions. Despite significant delays, Boeing remains fully committed to the Starliner program and currently has no intentions of halting its development.