NASA’s Commercial Crew Program Faces Challenges with Boeing’s Starliner and SpaceX

Nasa plans to return Boeing’s Starliner capsule to Earth without a crew on September 6, amid ongoing delays and issues.
SpaceX has been grounded by the FAA due to a mishap with a Falcon 9 rocket, potentially impacting astronaut return plans.
Both companies are part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, which may face significant setbacks if issues continue.

Starliner’s Autonomous Return

Boeing’s Starliner capsule is set to return to Earth on September 6, and it’s making the journey without any crew onboard. This decision comes at a time when the spacecraft has been plagued by delays and budget overruns. Later this month, SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission is scheduled to launch on September 24, but first, Starliner needs to undock because there are currently not enough docking ports available at the International Space Station (ISS) for both missions.

The empty return of Starliner is just another bump in the road for Boeing, which is already facing scrutiny for the ongoing issues with the project. Should SpaceX remain grounded for an extended time due to its own complications, plans to bring astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams back to Earth this February could also be thrown into chaos.

The Continued Struggles of Starliner

Starliner was already behind schedule prior to its first crewed test mission, which had to deal with several setbacks. A helium leak was detected at launch, but NASA and Boeing chose to monitor it instead of fixing it. As the mission progressed, additional leaks were found, along with thruster issues that arose during docking at the ISS.

NASA and Boeing spent extra time troubleshooting Starliner’s problems from Earth due to concerns that the service module would burn up upon reentry, leaving them with no physical evidence to analyze. Eventually, NASA decided the astronauts would return on a SpaceX capsule instead, which shrunk the Crew-9 mission from four astronauts to just two. This decision sparked controversy, with Boeing executives believing NASA was being overly cautious.

The thruster system, critical for Starliner’s maneuvering during reentry and docking, is one of the main issues currently plaguing the spacecraft. If the capsule cannot align itself properly during reentry, it could lead to disastrous consequences, including the risk of bouncing back into space or even breaking apart due to excessive forces.

Concerns About Safe Landing

There are also concerns surrounding Starliner’s parachute system. If the parachutes fail to deploy correctly, the capsule could land with too much force, posing life-threatening risks to its occupants. If everything goes according to plan, and Starliner lands safely in White Sands, New Mexico, Boeing might argue that their safety measures were too stringent. However, even a successful landing may not guarantee certification for future crewed flights, raising questions about Boeing’s safety culture and ongoing credibility.

SpaceX Grounded and Future Missions at Risk

SpaceX’s future plans, including the Crew-9 mission, are now in jeopardy due to a grounding by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This came on the heels of a Falcon 9 rocket exploding after a landing attempt, prompting the FAA to require an investigation and corrective action plan before any further flights can launch.

Despite successfully placing 21 Starlink satellites into orbit during the launch, the accident has put SpaceX’s other missions at risk, including the Polaris Dawn chartered mission, which has already experienced weather-related delays.

Navigating NASA’s Commercial Crew Program

NASA’s reliance on Boeing and SpaceX for astronaut transport to the ISS is part of its Commercial Crew Program, aimed at enhancing innovation and reducing costs by partnering with private industry. However, if Boeing’s Starliner doesn’t get certified and SpaceX remains grounded, NASA might find itself without a viable means of transporting astronauts, potentially reverting to Russian Soyuz spacecraft for assistance.

The Government Accountability Office has already warned that NASA’s program is falling short of its goals, and they highlighted the absence of a backup plan for instances when private companies fail to deliver.

SpaceX has successfully completed several missions, which improves the likelihood that they may resume flights after FAA approval. On the flip side, Boeing is under pressure to decide whether to push forward with a project that is already over budget by more than a billion dollars. With the ISS poised for decommissioning in the 2030s, time is of the essence for Boeing to make its move.

Jon’s Take

The unfolding saga of Boeing’s Starliner and SpaceX’s challenges underscores the complexities and risks involved in space exploration. While these partnerships present incredible opportunities for innovation, they also remind us of the inherent dangers and unpredictability of venturing beyond our planet. As we

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