Boeing Starliner: Crew Flight Still Faces Delay, Already Lost $1.1B on Project

Isaiah Richard, Tech Times 27 July 2023, 02:07 am

The latest second-quarter results report from Boeing unveils the latest state of the Boeing Starliner program, and it has been a massive loss for the company, amounting to as much as $1.1 billion. Despite this massive loss, it was also previously revealed that the Starliner's first supposed flight was moved yet again due to problems with the spacecraft.

It is widely known that Boeing is commissioned by the NASA Commercial Crew for a launch towards the International Space Station, with the company still facing problems until now.

Boeing Starliner Caused $1.1B Loss for the Company

(Photo : Boeing)

Boeing released its 2nd quarter earnings report for this fiscal year, and one of the most noticeable figures here is for the Starliner program which already caused a $1.1 billion loss for the company. The six-year development of the Starliner is still seeing massive challenges in getting the spacecraft to fly, as well as function as intended.

This quarter, the Starliner caused Boeing a $257 million loss, adding to the total that reached billions already.

As part of the Commercial Crew program, Boeing's delay on the Starliner ended up costing the company out of its pockets instead of the fixed-term contract from NASA.

Starliner Still Faces Delays for First Crew Flight

According to Ars Technica, NASA and Boeing targeted a July flight for the Starliner but the most recent announcement from June effectively delays its supposed launch.

There were two main problems it encountered, including the "soft links" in its lines that connect the spacecraft to its parachutes and the P-213 glass cloth tape that was discovered to be flammable.

For now, there are no specific launch windows for the Starliner as Boeing is working on its issues.

The Boeing Starliner's Journey and Delays

It was back in 2015 when Boeing first announced the Starliner's development, its take on the commercial spacecraft that would bring astronauts to the International Space Station. The Starliner centers on the CST-100 (Crew Space Transportation) that would seat the astronauts joining the mission, initially given a $4.2 billion contract by NASA.

The Starliner saw an issue back in 2019 when it first launched with excellent performance towards the ISS. The problem manifested when the Starliner's first stage would not dock with the space station, effectively hindering the mission and preventing the astronauts from joining their crewmates after experiencing problems with its engine on its chance to lock onto the ISS.

Earlier this year, there was supposedly a launch for the Starliner to finally fulfill its part on NASA's Commercial Crew but it was moved, until the latest announcement in June. The Starliner has proved to be one of the most crucial projects of Boeing now, still seeing significant challenges to complete, as well as a massive cost for the company.