It ’s a deplorable story that just keeps getting sadder . Boeing ’s CST-100 Starliner program , in developing for NASA since 2014 , has now crossed a dispirited threshold , with total losses now in excess of $ 1 billion .
On Wednesday , the companyannouncedfurther loss to the beleaguered program , as revealed in its second quarter 2023 financial earnings statement . The company has taken an additional $ 257 million bang , adding to theexisting $ 883 million in tutelage against earningsattributed to previous trouble dating back to December 2019 .
accordingly , Boeing ’s full losses now amount to a staggering $ 1.14 billion for the Starliner programme . The impact of these blow is evident in the company ’s Defense , Space , and Security division , which cover a significant loss of $ 527 million during the second twenty-five percent , with the Starliner project accounting for a substantive component part of this downswing , accordingto Ars Technica .
Boeing’s uncrewed Starliner capsule approaching the ISS on 16 February 2025.Photo: NASA
Adding insult to injury , there ’s still no indication as to when Starliner will execute its first flying with a crew on display panel .
Boeing , presently operating under a set - price contract with NASA , is obligated to absorb any additional toll . The company sign a $ 4.2 billion contract in 2014 as part of NASA ’s Commercial Crew Program , encompassing six operational Starliner missions . NASA also holds a parallel contract with SpaceX. Since 2020 , SpaceX ’s Crew Dragon space capsule has completed six crewed flights for NASA , with a 7th foreign mission planned for this get along August and an eighth tentatively planned for February 2024 . Boeing has yet to fly Starliner with a crew on board , though it did perform areasonably successful uncrewed missionin May 2022 .
In its latest fiscal salary statement , Boeing said the Starliner program “ register a $ 257 million loss primarily due to the impacts of the previously announced launch delay . ” The company initially take aim for a Crew Flight Test ( CFT ) launching on July 1 , with NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry “ Butch ” Wilmore fate for the International Space Station ( ISS ) . However , Boeing announced anindefinite delayto the launching on June 1 due to the discovery of two major safety issue .
The first problem has to do with the load capacity of Starliner ’s three chute , plan to ensure a safe landing place for the gang vehicle . The material division of the parachute have a failure load limit lower than forebode , implying that if one chute fails , the stay two would be incompetent of adequately decelerating the spacecraft for its landing in New Mexico . The second issue involves one C of feet of protective tape measure used to isolate the wiring harnesses inside the Starliner vehicle , which were found to be flammable . Mark Nappi , Boeing Starliner program manager and vice Chief Executive , excuse during the June briefing that it ’s too recent to move out the inflammable tape without inflicting further harm to the fomite . alternatively , Boeing and NASA are considering solutions involving extra wrapping over the existing tapeline in high - risk domain to extenuate fire hazards .
Boeing ’s Starliner program has along story of setbacks . In 2019 , Starliner was unable to reach its mean orbit due to a computer software mechanisation glitch , while a launch endeavour in 2021 was canceled on report of corroded valves in the capsule ’s propulsion system .
On Wednesday , Boeing President and CEO David Calhoun reaffirm the company ’s commitment to the Starliner program . Asquotedin Space Policy Online , he stated , “ On Starliner , we are in lockstep with our client . We prioritise safety and we ’re taking whatever time is require . We ’re confident in that squad and committed to getting it right . ”
NASA has also shown its faith in Boeing , though it has n’t yet confirm the next scheduled launching date . Steve Stich , NASA ’s program manager for Commercial Crew , state the space authority is “ not really quick to talk about a launching chance yet , ” as he explain during a Tuesday press conference to hash out the coming SpaceX Crew-7 mission . “ We ’re go to work the technical issues first , and then we ’ll sit down with the Boeing team when the time is right and pick a launch aim . ”
I ’m struggling to enfold my headspring around the $ 1.14 billion in losses and why both Boeing and NASA are moving ahead with the project . Part of me is like , cut your passing before it gets even worse . And it ’s not as if SpaceX has n’t already provided a dependable root for ferrying astronauts to low Earth orbit . But NASA wants a second option , and this desire , plus Boeing ’s obstinance to see the undertaking through to its conclusion , is starting to reach astronomical heights in terms of toll .
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