NASA INSPECTOR: BOEING STARLINER NOW A DECADE BEHIND

Boeing's Starliner faced a series of technical setbacks that pushed back its certification schedule substantially. The spacecraft, designed to ferry astronauts to the International Space Station, originally targeted certification years earlier. The inspector general's assessment reflects accumulated delays from propulsion system issues, software problems, and structural concerns identified during development and testing phases. Starliner competes with SpaceX's Crew Dragon for NASA contracts to transport astronauts. While Crew Dragon achieved operational status and has conducted multiple missions, Starliner remains grounded pending full certification. Boeing has invested billions in the Commercial Crew Program. A 2027 certification would represent a significant setback for the aerospace company's deep space ambitions and timeline expectations. NASA depends on multiple commercial crew vehicles for redundancy and reliability in crew transportation to orbit. The inspector general's statement comes as Boeing addresses quality control and manufacturing concerns across multiple programs.