NASA has classified the 2024 Boeing Starliner spacecraft failure, which left astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore stranded on the ISS for nine months, as a Type A accident. This designation indicates significant damage and potential loss of the vehicle or control, with costs exceeding $2 million. Despite last-minute control regained by the astronauts, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman emphasized that the incident posed hundreds of millions of dollars at risk, potentially threatening the ISS.
The report detailed shortcomings, highlighting that NASA’s eagerness for a second launch option alongside SpaceX led to oversight failures, allowing multiple test flights to proceed despite unresolved technical issues. There were also organizational problems, citing a lack of effective supervision by Boeing over subcontractors. Disagreements over crew repatriation further exacerbated tensions among NASA officials.
Despite these issues, NASA intends to continue with the Starliner program, albeit with stricter oversight and a commitment to resolve technical failures before future launches. Investigations into the thruster failure are ongoing, emphasizing a need for reliable functionality in future missions.
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