The Boeing Starliner, a spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS), has been a focal point of interest and challenges in recent years. Developed by Boeing as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, the Starliner plans to provide a reliable, reusable option for transporting crew and cargo to low-Earth orbit. As of July 2025, the program is at a critical juncture, navigating technical setbacks, budget concerns, and an uncertain path forward. This article explores the spacecraft’s current status, its recent challenges, and what lies ahead.
Background on the Starliner Program
The Starliner, officially named the CST-100, is a reusable crew capsule paired with an expendable service module. It’s designed to carry up to seven passengers, though NASA typically plans for four during ISS missions. Launched atop an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, the spacecraft can remain docked to the ISS for up to seven months. Its design incorporates modern features like wireless internet and tablet-based crew interfaces, alongside a weldless structure for enhanced durability and reduced weight.
Boeing received a $4.2 billion contract from NASA in 2014 to develop and certify the Starliner, outpacing the $2.6 billion awarded to SpaceX for its Crew Dragon. The goal was to create a competitive, redundant system for crewed spaceflight, reducing reliance on government-owned spacecraft. However, Boeing’s journey has been marked by delays, technical issues, and significant cost overruns, exceeding its budget by over $2 billion as of early 2025.
Recent Challenges During the Crew Flight Test
The Starliner’s most significant milestone to date was its Crew Flight Test (CFT), launched on June 5, 2024. This mission carried NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to the ISS, marking the spacecraft’s first crewed flight. However, the mission encountered serious issues. During its approach to the ISS, the Starliner experienced helium leaks and malfunctions in its reaction control system (RCS) thrusters, which are essential for precise maneuvering. Five of the 28 RCS thrusters failed, though four were later recovered before docking.
These problems raised safety concerns, prompting NASA to make a difficult decision: Wilmore and Williams would not return on the Starliner. Instead, the spacecraft was brought back to Earth uncrewed on September 7, 2024, landing safely at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico. The astronauts remained on the ISS, joining the Expedition 71/72 crew, and are expected to return in early 2025 aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon as part of the Crew-9 mission.
The uncrewed return allowed Boeing and NASA to collect valuable data, but it underscored persistent issues with the spacecraft’s propulsion system. The thruster malfunctions and helium leaks revealed design and operational challenges that need resolution before the Starliner can be certified for regular crewed missions.
Ongoing Efforts and Technical Fixes
Since the CFT, Boeing and NASA have been working to address the spacecraft’s issues. Testing has been extensive, both in space during the CFT and on the ground. At the White Sands Test Facility, engineers have conducted integrated firing tests on the Starliner’s thrusters, focusing on the service module’s “doghouse” compartments, which house the RCS thrusters. These tests aim to validate thermal models, improve propulsion systems, and explore operational changes to prevent future failures.
Boeing is also evaluating potential upgrades to the spacecraft’s thermal protection system. The goal is to ensure the Starliner can safely handle the demands of crewed missions. These efforts are part of a broader push to certify the spacecraft for regular ISS flights, a requirement under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. Certification involves proving the spacecraft’s reliability through abort tests, uncrewed flights, and crewed missions, a process Boeing has yet to complete.
Future Flights and Program Uncertainty
The Starliner’s next flight, originally planned for late 2025, has been delayed to early 2026 at the earliest. NASA and Boeing are still determining whether this mission, tentatively called Starliner-1, will carry a crew. The delay stems from the need to resolve technical issues and complete certification. Astronaut assignments for Starliner-1 have also shifted, with NASA reassigning some crew members, such as Mike Fincke and Kimiya Yui, to other missions like Crew-11, reflecting ongoing adjustments to the program’s timeline.
Beyond technical challenges, Boeing faces financial and strategic questions. The program’s budget overruns have drawn scrutiny, and some analysts speculate that Boeing may consider scaling back or selling parts of its space division, including Starliner. Despite these concerns, Boeing’s leadership has expressed commitment to continuing the program, and NASA remains a key partner, emphasizing the spacecraft’s potential for future missions.
Comparison with SpaceX’s Crew Dragon
The Starliner’s struggles stand in contrast to the success of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, which has completed multiple crewed missions to the ISS since its first in 2020. While Boeing received more initial funding, SpaceX’s program has been more cost-effective and reliable, highlighting differences in engineering approaches and corporate culture. The Crew Dragon’s success has provided NASA with a dependable alternative, allowing astronauts like Wilmore and Williams to return safely despite Starliner’s issues.
This comparison underscores the competitive nature of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, which was designed to foster innovation through private companies. While SpaceX has set a high bar, Boeing’s extensive experience in space exploration—building components for the Saturn V and the ISS—suggests it has the expertise to overcome current hurdles.
Summary
As of July 2025, the Boeing Starliner program is navigating a challenging phase. The Crew Flight Test in 2024 exposed significant issues with the spacecraft’s propulsion system, leading to an uncrewed return and a delay in the next flight to early 2026. Boeing and NASA are actively testing and refining the spacecraft to address these problems, with a focus on ensuring safety and reliability for future crewed missions. Despite financial pressures and competition from SpaceX, the Starliner remains a key part of NASA’s vision for commercial spaceflight. Its success will depend on resolving technical challenges and securing certification, paving the way for regular missions to the ISS and beyond.
