Boeing suffers another $125 million loss due to Starliner issues

Boeing has revealed it suffered another $125 million in losses as a result of the delayed return of its Starliner spacecraft from the ISS. Space news reports that the company disclosed the losses in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, along with more detailed information about its earnings for the second quarter of the year. The company has already recorded $288 million in losses “primarily as a result of the delay” of its 2023 Crew Flight Test mission.

The first crewed Starliner flight took off in June with NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams aboard. The Boeing spacecraft was supposed to remain docked to the ISS for only eight days before returning the astronauts to Earth, but hardware problems prevented the mission from going ahead as originally scheduled.

The company had to investigate and find the cause of the deterioration of the Starliner’s maneuvering engines as it approached the ISS. In addition, the helium leak that caused several delays in the spacecraft’s launch also appeared to have worsened. The company has been putting the spacecraft through a series of tests since June. Just a few days ago, on July 27, the company completed a hot fire test of the Starliner’s reaction control system thrusters and ensured that the vehicle’s helium leak rates remained within acceptable margins. The tests were conducted with Williams and Wilmore on board, as they are part of the preparations for the spacecraft’s return flight home.

NASA said the test results are still being analyzed. But once Boeing and the agency are confident that Starliner is ready, they will set a date for Starliner and the astronauts’ return flight.