We swear that we’re tired of writing about every single engineering problem at Boeing. After assuring that they would solve their plane problems, Boeing picked up a new bit: spacecraft problems. To quote Jay-Z, [Boeing] has 99 problems … and a [spacecraft] is one. 👽 😂
Boeing will cancel a planned test flight for its reusable crew capsule, Starliner, citing the need for “deeper-level troubleshooting of … [the] propulsion system valves.” The capsule will be sent back to the factory and aim to launch later this year, but it’s unlikely it will meet that deadline, according to space journos and experts alike.
Starliner is a reusable crew capsule meant to transport crew to the ISS and other orbital destinations, funded in-part by the government’s new commercial crew program. The only other member of the program is SpaceX, which has already launched its own crewed craft, Crewed Dragon. ⭐
Unfortunately, it’s not the first time that Boeing has fallen behind competitions and disappointed pretty much everybody. Over the last two years, the company has grappled with one technical woe after another. The company’s 737MAX was grounded for over a year after two fatal crashes killed 346. Though the plane was recertified in the US in January, whistleblowers have nailed Boeing for its production and quality assurance problems. The plane is still awaiting recertification in other markets, including India and China.
And even more frequently, Boeing had another problem with a completely separate plane. In July, Boeing confirmed issues with its largest plane, the 787 Dreamliner.
While Starliner does not produce the kind of revenues that Boeing’s aircraft sales do, this spells bad news for the aerospace company. Issues with planes and spacecraft translate to endemic problems in the company, which is certain to shake faith among investors. On the news today, $BA stock fell 1.52%.