NASA has officially designated the inaugural crewed test flight of Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft as a Type A mishap. The decision, announced on Thursday, February 19, 2026, followed the completion of a report by an independent Program Investigation Team examining issues related to the Commercial Crew Program mission. This classification signifies the most serious level of mission failure, reserved for events like the Space Shuttle Challenger and Columbia accidents and the Apollo 1 fire.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman stated that the Boeing spacecraft has encountered challenges throughout both its uncrewed and crewed missions. “The technical difficulties encountered during docking with the International Space Station (ISS) were highly apparent,” Isaacman said in a written statement on February 19, 2026. The Starliner launched on June 5, 2024, with two NASA astronauts onboard.
The initial eight-to-14-day mission was extended to 93 days after anomalies were detected in the spacecraft’s propulsion system whereas in orbit. NASA decided to return the astronauts to Earth to await transport via another spacecraft. This incident highlights the complexities and inherent risks of space travel, and the importance of rigorous testing and safety protocols.
Isaacman emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability in all missions. Beyond the technical issues, he noted that NASA allowed broader programmatic goals—specifically, having two providers capable of transporting astronauts to and from orbit—to influence engineering and operational decisions, particularly during and immediately after the mission.
“We are correcting those mistakes,” Isaacman said, adding, “Today, we are formally declaring this a Type A mishap and ensuring leadership accountability so situations like this never reoccur.”
Looking ahead, NASA anticipates collaborating with Boeing as both organizations implement corrective actions. “We look forward to working with Boeing as both organizations implement corrective actions and return Starliner to flight only when ready,” Isaacman stated.
In February 2025, NASA formed an independent investigation team to assess the technical, organizational, and cultural factors contributing to the Starliner test flight issues. The final report, completed in November 2025, identified a combination of hardware failures, qualification gaps, leadership errors, and organizational cultural issues that created risky conditions inconsistent with NASA’s human spaceflight safety standards.
NASA will now implement corrective measures and function with Boeing to ensure all investigation recommendations are addressed before Starliner is cleared for future missions. This thorough review process is crucial for restoring confidence in the program and ensuring the safety of future crewed spaceflights, a key priority for both NASA and Boeing.
