Boeing's Starliner test flight had a 2nd critical software issue, NASA panel finds (report)

Boeing's first CST-100 Starliner spacecraft on the ground at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, shortly after landing on Dec. 22, 2019. (Image credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Boeing is considering another test flight for its CST-100 Starliner commercial crew spacecraft amid concerns from a NASA safety panel about its first flight.

Boeing's Starliner spacecraft launched on Dec. 20, but was unable to dock with the International Space Station as planned because it ended up in the wrong orbit. But of growing concern now are two software problems that were uncovered after the flight was complete.

A newly disclosed timer error on the Dec. 20 flight had the potential to lead to "catastrophic" failure, NASA's Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel said during a meeting at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, on Thursday (Feb. 6), according to SpaceNews

Related: Boeing's 1st Starliner flight test in photos

Starliner is supposed to be ready to carry humans to the International Space Station (ISS) later in 2020, along with SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft. Both vehicles have faced technical and program delays in their journey to send astronauts safely to space. 

NASA's Office of the Inspector General warned late last year that these problems could lead to smaller ISS crews until the commercial crew program is ready to go. (The office said NASA could address the shortage by purchasing more seats on Russian Soyuz vehicles, or extending the typical six-month stay of astronauts — which NASA has already done twice recently with astronauts Christina Koch and Andrew Morgan.)

The timer error on Starliner was discovered by ground controllers during the flight and corrected while the spacecraft was still aloft, but panel member Paul Hill said the consequences of the error would have been grave if it had gone unnoticed.

"While this anomaly was corrected in flight, if it had gone uncorrected, it would have led to erroneous thruster firings and uncontrolled motion during [service module] separation for deorbit, with the potential for a catastrophic spacecraft failure," Hill said in the meeting. 

Related: How bad luck foiled efforts to get Starliner back on course toward space station

An artist's illustration of Boeing's CST-100 Starliner spacecraft in orbit. (Image credit: Boeing)

The panel has recommended reviews of Boeing's software and testing processes as "required input for a formal NASA review to determine flight readiness for either another uncrewed flight test, or proceeding directly to a crewed test flight," and Boeing issued a statement on Thursday (Feb. 6)  saying that it has accepted the recommendation from the panel.

Boeing further said on its Starliner website that is committed to safety, which could include booking a second uncrewed Starliner test flight before its first flight with astronauts, if NASA gives the approval.

"Boeing is as committed as ever to safe flight, mission assurance and helping our customer meet its crew transportation needs," the company said, pledging to spend $410 million to put Starliner "in position to support another flight should that mission be deemed necessary, while limiting the schedule impact on beginning regular Starliner service missions to the space station."

"The charge is intended to cover not only the cost of another flight test," Boeing continued, "but also the anomaly investigation and corrective action implementation, program disruptions and other work outside the scope of normal program operational costs post-OFT [orbital flight test]."

NASA and Boeing will issue a further media update during a teleconference today (Feb. 7) at 3:30 p.m. EST (2030 GMT), and you can tune in live here

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Elizabeth Howell
Staff Writer, Spaceflight

Elizabeth Howell (she/her), Ph.D., is a staff writer in the spaceflight channel since 2022 covering diversity, education and gaming as well. She was contributing writer for Space.com for 10 years before joining full-time. Elizabeth's reporting includes multiple exclusives with the White House and Office of the Vice-President of the United States, an exclusive conversation with aspiring space tourist (and NSYNC bassist) Lance Bass, speaking several times with the International Space Station, witnessing five human spaceflight launches on two continents, flying parabolic, working inside a spacesuit, and participating in a simulated Mars mission. Her latest book, "Why Am I Taller?", is co-written with astronaut Dave Williams. Elizabeth holds a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Space Studies from the University of North Dakota, a Bachelor of Journalism from Canada's Carleton University and a Bachelor of History from Canada's Athabasca University. Elizabeth is also a post-secondary instructor in communications and science at several institutions since 2015; her experience includes developing and teaching an astronomy course at Canada's Algonquin College (with Indigenous content as well) to more than 1,000 students since 2020. Elizabeth first got interested in space after watching the movie Apollo 13 in 1996, and still wants to be an astronaut someday. Mastodon: https://qoto.org/@howellspace

  • Karmudjun
    We've already seen how conscientious Boeing's software engineers are with the 737 max snafus. Do we really want more deaths? I mean, c'mon, it is as if M$ was coding for them. Enough errors in one operating system to allow a dark web to access everyone in the world's banking if M$ style software programming is employed!

    Why don't they allow people who have real expertise in software construction and in software troubleshooting write the programs? Why must Boeing keep it all in-house and kill people?

    This needs to get of the ground (Boeing can do that!) and keep people alive (not such a good track record with their software on that score). We need this transport to the ISS. We do not need Boeing sabotaging our efforts with their inane coding skills. Didn't the 737 max teach industry & NASA anything?
    Reply
  • Hari
    Boeing only now found out its entire code is suspect even though it won the contract in September 2014?! The blasé attitude of the Boeing rep wasn't convincing, so imagine being a spouse of the first CFT crew and hearing him. God help those who fly on Starliner.
    Reply
  • Leftyricardo55
    SpaceX has been refining it's cargo delivery software with each cargo Dragon's launch to the ISS. So when the unmanned crew Dragon docked it went flawlessly. Would have helped Boeing too had they started with a cargo version.
    Reply
  • Leftyricardo55
    One of their parachutes failed to deploy-hardly a "picture perfect" landing!
    Reply