Key Points:
- Boeing has reported an additional $125 million in losses due to delays with the Starliner spacecraft’s return from the ISS.
- The first crewed Starliner flight launched in June with NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams.
- Hardware issues, including degraded maneuvering thrusters and a worsening helium leak, disrupted the mission’s timeline.
- Boeing has conducted a series of tests since June, including a successful fire test of the reaction control system jets on July 27.
Boeing has announced an additional $125 million in losses related to the delays of its Starliner spacecraft’s return from the International Space Station (ISS). The company disclosed these losses in a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission and detailed earnings for the year’s second quarter. Previously, Boeing had reported $288 million in losses, primarily due to postponing the Crew Flight Test mission originally scheduled for 2023.
In June, NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams were aboard the first crewed flight of the Starliner spacecraft. Initially, the spacecraft was intended to remain docked at the ISS for eight days before returning the astronauts to Earth. However, technical issues disrupted this timeline.
Boeing had to investigate the causes behind the degradation of the Starliner’s maneuvering thrusters during its approach to the ISS. Additionally, a helium leak, which had already caused multiple delays to the spacecraft’s launch, appeared to have worsened.
Since June, Boeing has subjected the Starliner to rigorous tests. On July 27, the company completed a fire test of the Starliner spacecraft’s reaction control system jets, ensuring that the helium leak rates remained within acceptable limits. These tests were conducted with astronauts Williams and Wilmore onboard as part of the preparations for their return flight to Earth.
NASA stated that the results of these tests are still under review. Once both Boeing and NASA confirm the Starliner’s readiness, a date will be set for the spacecraft and the astronauts’ return journey. This delay has been a significant setback for Boeing, which has been under pressure to demonstrate the Starliner’s reliability and safety as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.
