Boeing Aims for Multiple Starliner Spaceship Flights in the Coming Years, Says CEO

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Boeing’s Vision for the Starliner Spacecraft

Boeing is set to advance its Starliner spacecraft missions to the International Space Station (ISS) in the years ahead, as stated by CEO Kelly Ortberg. Taking the helm last year, Ortberg has directed efforts to rectify Boeing’s production challenges, stemming from prior quality control issues. During a recent interview on CNBC, he elaborated on Boeing’s collaboration with NASA to rectify problems associated with the spacecraft’s previous empty return journey.

The Starliner’s uncrewed return necessitated that NASA transport astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to the ISS aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, demonstrating the urgency of resolving these issues.

Resolving Starliner Challenges: A Work in Progress

The Starliner was initially expected to achieve certification after its crewed mission last year. However, delays due to an inability to identify the underlying causes of thruster failures resulted in postponed certification. According to NASA, roughly 70% of the data from the upcoming 2024 flight has been analyzed, with the agency indicating that identified anomalies will remain under scrutiny until further testing is carried out later this year.

Starliner's parachute deployment was one of the final stages before its landing — Starliner’s parachute deployment just moments before landing. Image: NASA

In his interview, Ortberg expressed enthusiasm for the future of the Starliner program, mentioning, “more missions on Starliner”are on the horizon. He stressed the proactive measures Boeing is undertaking with NASA to address the spacecraft’s thruster issues, which caused significant power loss during a docking attempt at the ISS.

Engineering Solutions and Future Prospects

Ortberg conveyed optimism regarding the engineering tasks at hand, noting, “It’s pretty straightforward engineering work, ”and emphasized the team’s awareness of the issues. He expressed confidence in the existing corrective strategies, indicating a hopeful outlook for several additional flights in the coming years.

As one of the two spacecraft designated to transport astronauts to the ISS under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, the Starliner plays a vital role in the agency’s plans to sustain ISS operations through at least 2030. This presents Boeing with a narrow window to refine the Starliner and recover the costs associated with its development.

When queried about the company’s confidence in resolving the existing issues, Ortberg asserted, “Yeah, we are.”He reiterated the simplicity of the solutions being pursued, reinforcing the belief that straightforward engineering fixes will ultimately lead to success.

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