"The duo's launch was initially a success but as their Starliner spacecraft approached the station, multiple thrusters failed, hampering the crew's ability to steer toward the station and dock. After months of deliberation, NASA and Boeing made the decision to send Starliner back to Earth without Wilmore and Williams on board. Instead, the astronauts remained on the space station and returned home 9 months later in SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule."
"The report identifies the thrusters as a key technical issue leading to the failure, although an investigation is still ongoing and a root cause has not yet been found. "Starliner has design and engineering deficiencies that must be corrected," said Isaacman. "But the most troubling failure revealed by this investigation is not hardware. It's decision making and leadership that, if left unchecked, could create a culture incompatible with human spaceflight.""
A 311-page report details failures during Starliner’s first crewed test flight launched in June 2024 with astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams. The launch succeeded but multiple thrusters failed during approach, preventing steering and docking. After deliberation, NASA and Boeing returned the Starliner to Earth without the astronauts, who remained on the International Space Station and later returned via SpaceX nine months afterward. The report classifies the event as a Type A Mishap and links thruster problems to the failure while noting the root cause remains under investigation. The report cites design and engineering deficiencies and significant leadership and decision-making breakdowns at both Boeing and NASA, noting an erosion of trust.
Read at www.npr.org
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