NASA Releases Report on Starliner Crewed Flight Test Investigation

NASA

by Cheryl Warner

February 19, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

NASA has released a comprehensive report detailing the challenges faced during Boeing’s Starliner crewed flight test mission to the International Space Station, officially classifying it as a Type A mishap due to significant risks encountered. The mission, launched on June 5, 2024, with astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, aimed to demonstrate the spacecraft’s ability to transport crew but faced critical issues during docking attempts and propulsion system anomalies. These problems led to an extended 93-day mission before Starliner safely returned to Earth in September 2024. The investigation revealed a complex interplay of hardware failures, qualification gaps, leadership missteps, and cultural breakdowns within Boeing and NASA that contributed to the mission’s risks being inconsistent with safety standards. The report highlights how technical challenges were exacerbated by programmatic objectives emphasizing having two providers for crew transportation, which influenced engineering decisions during and after the mission. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman emphasized the need for transparency and accountability, stressing that future missions must learn from these shortcomings. The findings underscore the importance of collaboration between Boeing and NASA to address technical and organizational issues before resuming Starliner flights. The mission’s mishap, though without injuries or loss of life, serves as a critical lesson in ensuring crew and mission safety in human spaceflight. NASA’s acceptance of this report marks a commitment to implementing corrective actions across its programs to prevent similar issues in the future. This incident highlights the inherent risks in developing and testing

Verticals

spacescience

Originally published on NASA on 2/19/2026