NASA watchdog flags unresolved Starliner issues, casting doubt on Boeing's certification path

NASA's Office of the Inspector General has released an audit that details ongoing technical problems with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, raising fresh uncertainty about when the vehicle will be certified to carry astronauts. The report, covered by both space.com and UPI, points to unresolved issues from Starliner's uncrewed test flights and its Crew Flight Test mission as key obstacles to future crewed missions to the International Space Station.

space.comNASA audit questions Boeing Starliner certification timeline after technical issues

According to space.com, the audit specifically "casts doubt on when Boeing will achieve human-rating certification for Starliner," leaving NASA without a clear timeline for the spacecraft's next astronaut flights. The report also highlights the broader implications for the agency's plans to maintain uninterrupted access to the ISS through 2030.

"casts doubt on when Boeing will achieve human-rating certification for Starliner"

UPI reported that the Inspector General's findings warn of "increased risks to sustained crew transportation through 2030," as well as ongoing delays and rising costs tied to the program. Boeing holds a contract with NASA under the Commercial Crew Program, but the audit suggests that the company still faces significant hurdles before Starliner can be declared safe for regular service.

"increased risks to sustained crew transportation through 2030"

The unresolved technical issues, which include problems from both the uncrewed Orbital Flight Test 2 and the Crew Flight Test, have already pushed back Starliner's operational debut. With NASA's certification process now under question, the agency may need to rely more heavily on SpaceX's Crew Dragon for ISS rotations in the near term. The audit underscores that Boeing must address these deficiencies before the spacecraft can be approved for long-duration astronaut missions.