NASA has officially classified Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner crewed flight test as a “Type A mishap,” the agency’s highest severity designation. The announcement, made during a press conference on Thursday, February 19, 2026, followed the release of a final investigation report detailing a series of serious issues ranging from hardware failures to decision-making lapses.
The designation marks a significant acknowledgement of the challenges inherent in developing commercial spacecraft. What was initially planned as a relatively short mission ultimately extended to over three months in orbit due to technical problems that jeopardized the flight. The Starliner program represents a key component of NASA’s strategy to diversify access to space, and this incident raises questions about the pace of commercial space development.
Chronology of the Mission and Critical Technical Hurdles
Starliner’s inaugural crewed mission launched on June 5, 2024, carrying NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to the International Space Station (ISS). The flight was originally scheduled to last between eight and 14 days. Yet, ground teams detected serious issues with the Starliner’s propulsion system while the spacecraft was in orbit, forcing an extended stay in space of 93 days.
Identified technical problems included failures of several thrusters, causing Starliner to lose some of its maneuvering capability during its approach to the ISS – a highly risky situation for the crew. NASA subsequently made the critical decision to return the capsule to Earth without Wilmore and Williams, who ultimately returned to Earth safely aboard SpaceX Crew-9 in March 2025.
In-Depth Investigation Results and Key Findings
In response to the incident, NASA formed an independent Program Investigation Team in February 2025 to comprehensively investigate the causes of the issues encountered during the mission. The final report, exceeding 300 pages, was completed in November 2025 and released to the public earlier this year.
The investigation found that the mishap was caused by a combination of factors, including hardware failures, gaps in the technical qualification process, flawed decision-making, and an operational culture inconsistent with NASA’s safety standards for human spaceflight. The report also highlighted that the issues weren’t solely technical, but also stemmed from problems in leadership and program oversight.
Considering the loss of vehicle control during a critical phase of approach to the ISS and the significant financial losses incurred, NASA classified the mission as a “Type A mishap.” This classification is the highest severity level, comparable to major incidents in the history of spaceflight. While no injuries occurred, the designation underscores the serious potential risk to human safety inherent in the incident.
NASA’s Commitment to Future Safety
New NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman affirmed that the agency will continue to work closely with Boeing to understand and address the technical issues, and to implement all investigation recommendations before the next mission. The complete report, including a redacted version to protect sensitive information, is now available online and an accessible version compliant with Section 508 standards will soon be provided on NASA’s official website.
NASA stated that the valuable lessons learned from this mission will be used to improve crew safety and future space programs. Starliner will still undergo a series of rigorous repairs and retesting. NASA is fully committed to not flying another crewed mission before all investigation findings are fully addressed, ensuring maximum safety for astronauts.
