Boeing’s Starliner program continues to struggle, with the aerospace giant reporting over $2 billion in losses since 2019, including $523 million in 2024 alone. The CST-100 Starliner, initially developed under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, has been plagued by delays, cost overruns, and unresolved technical issues, raising concerns about its future.
Starliner’s Costly Struggles
Boeing’s 10-K annual report, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on February 3, 2025, detailed the largest annual loss in Starliner’s history, surpassing the $489 million reported in 2019. The company attributed the financial hit to delays, increased testing and certification expenses, and higher costs for post-certification missions.
Despite being selected alongside SpaceX in 2014 to transport astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS), Starliner has fallen significantly behind its competitor. While SpaceX’s Crew Dragon has flown multiple successful missions, Boeing’s Starliner faced software glitches, propulsion failures, and structural design flaws, leading to extensive delays and budget overruns.
Crewed Test Flight Fallout
Boeing’s first crewed flight test in June 2024 aimed to prove Starliner’s capability to ferry astronauts. However, thruster overheating and helium leaks created significant risks, forcing NASA to abandon plans to return astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams on Starliner.
Instead, NASA opted to send Starliner back to Earth uncrewed, deeming it unsafe for human return. Wilmore and Williams remain on the ISS, awaiting a SpaceX Crew Dragon flight scheduled for early April 2025, extending their mission well beyond the intended 10-day stay.
Uncertain Future for Starliner
Boeing and NASA have yet to decide when Starliner will fly again, with the spacecraft’s propulsion system issues still unresolved. Discussions have included flying an uncrewed cargo mission to validate fixes before committing to another crewed flight.
NASA had originally contracted six operational missions with Starliner but has only authorized three so far. Meanwhile, SpaceX continues to expand its contract, recently securing additional crew rotation flights. With the ISS set for retirement around 2030, Boeing risks running out of opportunities to fulfill its contract.
Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, added to the skepticism, recently stating,
“There is no logical purpose to Starliner, given that NASA plans to deorbit the Space Station in ~5 years.”
Leadership Shake-Up
The financial setbacks have led to changes in Starliner’s leadership. Mark Nappi, who led the program since 2022, announced his retirement from Boeing and is being replaced by John Mulholland, who previously managed the Starliner program from 2011 to 2020.
Mulholland’s past decisions contributed to Starliner’s struggles, including software flaws, propulsion system design issues, and flammable materials inside the capsule. His reappointment has raised concerns about whether Boeing can successfully rectify Starliner’s problems.
Boeing’s Space Operations Under Pressure
Beyond Starliner, Boeing remains deeply involved in NASA’s space programs, including the Space Launch System (SLS) for Artemis missions and ISS support operations. However, growing competition from SpaceX, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and international firms like Airbus has put Boeing’s space dominance at risk.
Rumors persist that Boeing may offload some of its struggling space programs, with Starliner seen as a likely candidate for elimination. The company has yet to confirm such plans, but investor pressure and mounting losses may force difficult decisions in the near future.
NASA and Boeing at a Crossroads
NASA has acknowledged “significant progress” on some Starliner issues but remains noncommittal on when the spacecraft might return to human spaceflight. The Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel recently confirmed that critical thruster concerns are still unresolved, making certification uncertain.
Boeing executives avoided discussing Starliner’s future during the company’s recent earnings call, signaling uncertainty about the next steps. Meanwhile, NASA is shifting focus toward commercial space station programs, potentially reducing the need for Starliner beyond ISS operations.
Conclusion
With over $2 billion in losses, leadership turnover, and ongoing technical failures, Boeing’s Starliner program faces an uphill battle to remain relevant in NASA’s human spaceflight plans. As SpaceX solidifies its dominance in commercial crew transport, Boeing must prove Starliner’s reliability—or risk seeing the program fade into history.
