spacecraft departs Boeing’s spacecraft processing facility before the program’s first orbital test flight in 2019.”>
Enlarge / A Starliner capsule leaves Boeing’s facility prior to its inaugural test flight in orbit back in 2019.
Boeing has disclosed an additional financial setback for its troubled Starliner commercial crew initiative, increasing the total financial hit to a staggering $1.6 billion.
In their latest earnings announcement, Boeing reported a $125 million deficit related to the Starliner project, attributing the losses primarily to delays surrounding the ongoing Crew Flight Test, which represents the program’s first astronaut mission into space. This instance marks yet another occurrence where Boeing has had to record losses on Starliner; with this most recent charge included, total expenditures incurred by the company on this project have reached nearly $1.6 billion since its commencement in 2016.
The majority of these financial challenges stem from delays and unexpected efforts necessary to address various technical issues associated with the Starliner spacecraft. It is worth noting that when NASA awarded Boeing a substantial $4.2 billion contract for completing development of this spacecraft nearly ten years ago, it was expected that missions involving astronauts would commence by late 2017.
This continued saga highlights ongoing challenges within aerospace programs and raises questions about efficiency and project management within major contractor operations.
