The Repeated Setbacks of Boeing’s Starliner: What Went Wrong? (AI Translation)

【周刊提前读】波音“星际客机”屡遭败绩 它做错了什么？

Around midnight on September 7, 2024, Boeing's "Starliner" spacecraft landed in New Mexico, USA, an achievement praised by both Boeing and NASA [para. 1]. Notably, American astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams were not on this flight. Wilmore, 61, and Williams, 58, are now set to return to Earth in February 2025 via SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, extending their mission duration significantly [para. 2]. Due to changes, the Crew Dragon's initial August launch shifted to September 24 with fewer crew members, creating space for this return [para. 2]. Additionally, Nick Hague was selected as the experienced astronaut to accompany them, in compliance with NASA’s agreement with Russia [para. 2].

The Starliner spacecraft has faced numerous issues, including multiple delays and cost overruns, raising doubts about Boeing's capability to execute manned spaceflight projects [para. 3]. Concerns over the review process of its risky test flights have also been highlighted [para. 3]. NASA is contemplating another test flight before the manned flight originally slated for August 2025 [para. 4]. Meanwhile, NASA's Steve Stich emphasized that the next steps involve thorough data review and tests [para. 4].

Further complicating the project is the potential political dynamics surrounding Boeing and NASA, given Elon Musk’s support for a probable re-election of former President Trump and Boeing’s existing trust issues in the commercial aviation sector [para. 5]. On June 5, 2024, the Starliner was finally launched by the "Atlas V" rocket, although almost five years had passed since its first unmanned test flight, testing the patience of many stakeholders [para. 6]. But the mission encountered a series of technical snags, starting with helium leaks detected nearly 18 hours after liftoff [para. 7-12]. Despite these, the spacecraft managed an autonomous docking and the astronauts entered the International Space Station (ISS) [para. 8].

The astronauts initially intended to stay eight days on the ISS and were scheduled to return on June 14, 2024, but a series of technical issues forced several delays, extending their stay indefinitely [para. 2][para. 13-14]. NASA is managing these delays and continues to monitor the Starliner’s technical issues [para. 15-16], ensuring the astronauts’ safety and ample supplies through mid-August [para. 17-18]. Weekly updates and regular ground tests continued, but a concrete return date remained elusive [para. 18].

The media has portrayed this prolonged mission extension with headlines such as "Stranded in Space," straining the relations between NASA, Boeing, and the media [para. 19-22]. By late August, NASA decided to shift the astronauts' return to the Crew Dragon spacecraft in February 2025 when they will join Expeditions 71 and 72 [para. 23-26]. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson justified this decision with an emphasis on flight safety in inherently risky spaceflight missions [para. 27].

Upon its return journey, the Starliner continued to showcase minor issues, including a helium leak and a navigation system glitch [para. 28]. The spacecraft will undergo thorough data analysis post-landing [para. 28]. Notably absent from the landing press conference was a Boeing representative, reflecting potential trust issues [para. 29].

Technical snags with Starliner included flawed propulsion bay designs causing overheating, an issue unresolved as of the spacecraft’s first uncrewed test flight in December 2019 [para. 30-38]. Historical mishaps included software errors that almost led to fatal failures [para. 42] and persistent issues during the second test flight initially planned in November 2020 but delayed due to various technical problems [para. 41-44].

Boeing faced internal and external critique over these mishaps while NASA kept supporting them to foster competition, explaining Boeing’s high-profile contracts [para. 50-63]. Unlike SpaceX’s uprising as an industry leader, Boeing has struggled, recording cost overruns of approximately $1.6 billion, exacerbating their financial burdens [para. 66-68]. Internal organizational issues, inadequate communication, and outdated practices have crippled Boeing’s progress in contrast to agile competitors like SpaceX [para. 69-75].

Amid these challenges, unique trust issues stemming from previous civil aviation incidents further marred Boeing’s reputation [para. 87-91]. NASA's persistence with the Starliner project reflects the aerospace agency’s broader strategy of ensuring competitive redundancy in spaceflight programs [para. 78-81][para. 98].