Investigators Blame NASA and Boeing for Starliner Failures

An investigation into the 2024 Starliner flight found a series of technical and management errors by both NASA and Boeing. Jared Isaacman, the NASA administrator, said the problems pointed to shortcomings in the agency’s culture that could endanger the lives of its astronauts.

NASA has classified the flight as a “Type A mishap,” the highest-level designation for a mission failure. The Starliner’s failure left Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore on the International Space Station for nine months instead of the expected eight days. The greatest danger occurred when Starliner’s thrusters failed as it approached the station; enough thrusters were made operational again to allow the astronauts to dock successfully.

“At that moment, had different decisions been made, had thrusters not been recovered or had docking been unsuccessful, the outcome of this mission could have been very, very different,” Mr. Isaacman said.

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