NASA Shifts Focus to SpaceX for 2025 Missions Amid Boeing Starliner Challenges and Certification Delays

The recent challenges stemming from Boeing’s Crew Test Flight have prompted significant changes in NASA’s strategy for its Commercial Crew Program. After the Boeing Starliner returned to Earth empty a month ago, NASA announced on Tuesday that its missions scheduled for 2025 will exclusively utilize SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft.

This decision reflects the ongoing issues with the Starliner, which remains unavailable for the foreseeable future. As a result, NASA has also indicated that it will have to rely on Russia’s Soyuz spacecraft to fill any operational gaps.

The Starliner’s crewed test flight was marred by serious thruster problems that occurred throughout the mission. A critical issue arose when a Teflon coating around the thruster valves began melting and extruding, which ultimately rendered one of the thrusters inoperable.

Due to these failures, the Starliner has yet to receive the necessary certification to fly, which was the primary objective of the test flight. NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy acknowledged the complications, stating that the spacecraft is currently undergoing data review and that a decision regarding the need for an additional test flight is forthcoming.

With the Starliner unable to support any operational missions to the International Space Station next year, NASA has made it clear that it will depend on SpaceX vehicles for the Crew-10 and Crew-11 missions in 2025. However, the agency has not completely dismissed the potential for future Starliner missions.

According to NASA’s update, the timeline and configuration of Starliner’s next flight will be determined after a thorough understanding of Boeing’s path to system certification is established. This assessment will consider the incorporation of lessons learned from the Crew Flight Test, as well as the approval of final certification products and the spacecraft’s operational readiness.

Despite the ongoing challenges with the Starliner, NASA is not abandoning the project altogether. The agency recognizes the importance of having multiple launch options and is reluctant to give up on the Boeing spacecraft due to the substantial investment made in its development.

NASA has already invested approximately $5 billion into the Starliner program, underscoring the financial stakes involved. Many within the agency, including astronaut Barry Wilmore, express a preference for ensuring that the Starliner will be ready for future missions rather than questioning whether it will succeed.

While NASA faces a significant setback with the Boeing Starliner, it remains committed to the spacecraft’s development. The agency’s reliance on SpaceX and Soyuz for immediate needs highlights the urgency of addressing Starliner’s certification issues.

As NASA navigates this complex situation, the future of the Starliner will depend on ongoing evaluations, data reviews, and the incorporation of lessons learned from its troubled test flight. The outcome of these efforts will ultimately determine whether the Starliner can regain its status as a viable option in NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.