NASA Grapples with Starliner Failures

Independent review finds organizational issues, not just technical problems, behind Boeing spacecraft's troubled development

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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An independent review of Boeing's CST-100 Starliner spacecraft has found that the most troubling failures were not technical, but rather issues with decision-making and leadership at both Boeing and NASA that created a culture incompatible with human spaceflight. The report details how disagreements over the spacecraft's safety led to unprofessional conduct, with 'advocacy tied to the Starliner program's viability' persisting alongside 'insufficient senior NASA leadership engagement to refocus teams on safety and mission outcomes'.

Why it matters

The Starliner's troubled development has delayed NASA's plans to have two independent commercial crew providers, leaving the agency reliant on SpaceX's Crew Dragon. The report's findings raise concerns about the organizational culture and decision-making processes within both Boeing and NASA's commercial crew program, which could have broader implications for the future of the U.S. human spaceflight program.

The details

The report details how, even before the Starliner's first uncrewed test flight in 2019, testing showed risks of the spacecraft's thrusters exceeding qualification limits. However, NASA accepted these risks, leading to thruster failures during the 2024 Crew Flight Test that nearly prevented the spacecraft from docking with the International Space Station. The report also found issues with the decision-making process, including 'emotionally charged and unproductive' meetings where 'there was yelling' as Boeing and NASA debated the spacecraft's safety.

  • In 2019, Starliner's first uncrewed test flight experienced issues.
  • In 2022, Starliner's second uncrewed test flight also had problems.
  • In mid-2024, the Crew Flight Test mission experienced thruster failures that nearly prevented docking with the ISS.
  • In March 2025, the two astronauts on the Crew Flight Test mission returned to Earth on a SpaceX Crew Dragon after spending 8 months on the ISS.
  • In February 2026, NASA released an independent report detailing the organizational and cultural issues behind the Starliner's troubles.

The players

Jared Isaacman

NASA administrator who presented the findings of the independent report and acknowledged that NASA failed the astronauts on the Starliner Crew Flight Test mission.

Suni Williams

One of the two astronauts who launched on the Starliner Crew Flight Test mission in 2024 and ended up spending 8 months on the ISS after returning on a SpaceX Crew Dragon.

Butch Wilmore

The other astronaut who launched on the Starliner Crew Flight Test mission in 2024 and also returned on a SpaceX Crew Dragon after the extended stay on the ISS.

Ken Bowersox

NASA associate administrator for space operations who provided updates on the Starliner program in January 2026.

Steve Stich

NASA commercial crew program manager who discussed plans for the next Starliner uncrewed mission in February 2026.

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What they’re saying

“Starliner has design and engineering deficiencies that must be corrected, but the most troubling failure revealed by this investigation is not hardware. It's decision making and leadership that left that, if left unchecked, could create a culture incompatible with human spaceflight.”

— Jared Isaacman, NASA Administrator (thespacereview.com)

“Witness statements routinely reflected a belief that management within the commercial crew program could only succeed if Starliner launched.”

— Jared Isaacman, NASA Administrator (thespacereview.com)

“There was yelling in meetings. It was emotionally charged and unproductive.”

— Anonymous Interviewee (thespacereview.com)

“Butch and Suni are honestly like family to me. They have so much grace, and they're so competent, the two of them, and we failed them. The agency failed them.”

— Amit Kshatriya, NASA Associate Administrator (thespacereview.com)

What’s next

NASA has not yet decided if the next crew rotation mission after Crew-12 will be another Crew Dragon mission or the first operational Starliner crewed mission. The agency says it will wait until the Starliner-1 uncrewed mission is completed in the spring or summer of 2026 before making that determination.

The takeaway

The Starliner's troubled development has exposed deep organizational issues within both Boeing and NASA's commercial crew program, raising concerns about the decision-making processes and culture that could impact the future of the U.S. human spaceflight program. Restoring trust and ensuring crew safety will be critical as NASA works to get the Starliner back on track.