NASA Designates Boeing Starliner Crewed Flight Test as Type A Mishap
NASA has officially classified the Boeing CST-100 Starliner’s first crewed flight test mission as a Type A mishap, the agency’s highest level of severity designation. This decision follows the release of a comprehensive investigation report detailing a series of technical issues and decision-making gaps encountered during the mission.
Mission Overview and Timeline
The Starliner mission, launched on June 5, 2024, carried NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to the International Space Station (ISS). NASA initially planned for an 8-to-14-day mission, but a problem with the spacecraft’s propulsion system necessitated an extended stay in orbit.
The mission ultimately lasted 93 days, as ground teams identified multiple failures in thrusters and thrust regulators. These issues compromised the Starliner’s maneuverability during its approach to the ISS, posing a safety risk to the crew. Astronauts Wilmore and Williams ultimately returned to Earth in March 2025 via the SpaceX Crew-9 mission. NASA decided to bring the astronauts back without completing all original mission objectives.
Investigation Findings
An independent Program Investigation Team was formed in February 2025 to investigate the causes of the problems encountered during the mission. The team’s final report, released in February 2026, spans over 300 pages and identifies a combination of factors contributing to the incident. NASA’s report details hardware failures, gaps in the technical qualification process, decision-making errors, and an operational culture that did not consistently align with NASA’s safety standards for crewed flights.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman emphasized that the issues extended beyond technical problems, citing program leadership and oversight as contributing factors. NASA has declared a Type A mishap, a classification reserved for the most serious incidents in spaceflight history, despite the absence of injuries.
Future of the Starliner Program
NASA is committed to working with Boeing to address the identified issues and implement the investigation’s recommendations before conducting future missions. NASA will not proceed with further crewed missions until all findings are resolved to ensure astronaut safety. The full report is available online, with an accessible version planned for release on NASA’s official website.
The Boeing Starliner (CST-100) is designed to transport crew to and from the International Space Station (ISS) and is developed under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. Boeing states that the spacecraft can accommodate a crew of up to seven, though NASA currently plans to fly no more than four.