NASA released a report on Thursday, February 19, 2026, detailing findings from an investigation into Boeing’s Starliner Crewed Flight Test, part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program. The report acknowledges challenges faced throughout Starliner’s development and recent missions, and outlines steps to prevent similar issues in the future.
The Starliner spacecraft launched on June 5, 2024, carrying NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to the International Space Station. The mission aimed to demonstrate the capability of a second commercial provider to transport astronauts to orbit, reducing reliance on a single system.
“The Boeing Starliner spacecraft has faced challenges throughout its uncrewed and most recent crewed missions,” said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman. “Even as Boeing built Starliner, NASA accepted it and launched two astronauts to space. The technical difficulties encountered during docking with the International Space Station were very apparent.”
Isaacman emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability in space exploration. “To undertake missions that change the world, we must be transparent about both our successes and our shortcomings. We have to own our mistakes and ensure they never happen again.”
The investigation revealed that overarching programmatic objectives – specifically the desire to have two providers for astronaut transport – influenced engineering and operational decisions, particularly during and immediately after the mission. NASA is now taking corrective actions to address these issues.
NASA has formally declared a Type A mishap, signifying the severity of the issues encountered, and is ensuring leadership accountability to prevent recurrence. The agency stated it will work with Boeing to implement corrective actions and resume Starliner flights only when the spacecraft is fully ready. This incident underscores the complexities of developing and maintaining human spaceflight capabilities, and the critical require for rigorous testing and oversight.
More details about the report are available on NASA’s website.
