Produced by: Tarun Mishra
After years of setbacks, as Boeing's Starliner spacecraft was being rolled out to the launchpad for its second attempt to rendezvous with the International Space Station (ISS) in 2022, a news videographer captured unusual activity onboard the spacecraft.
During transport, a piece of the capsule's window appeared to pop off and fall to the asphalt. This incident was captured in footage shared by CBS space news reporter William Harwood. The procession stopped briefly to check for damage before resuming its journey to Space Launch Complex 41 in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Boeing later confirmed that the object that fell off was a protective window cover. While not a serious issue, the incident adds to the negative perception surrounding the spacecraft’s reliability. Not just the spacecraft, Boeing's airplanes are also frequently getting their windows blown away in mid-air, sometimes even doors.
The Starliner project has faced significant challenges. Its maiden voyage in 2020 nearly ended in disaster, prompting a NASA safety review that found Boeing had cut crucial corners in its planning.
The second uncrewed test flight, originally planned for August 2021, was repeatedly delayed and engineers struggled with multiple issues, including the corrosion of valves due to Florida’s humidity.
After 2 years, the spacecraft finally managed to reach space after 6 delays in 1 month. However, after reaching space, five of Starliner’s 28 reaction control thrusters failed during the final phase of the rendezvous, though four recovered later.
Initially planned for return on June 13, the astronauts' departure has been postponed three times without a new return date established this time. NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are now stuck on aboard the International Space Station (ISS) due to multiple issues discovered with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft.
Meanwhile, SpaceX has outpaced Boeing in the development of space capsules under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. SpaceX has successfully delivered astronauts and cargo to the ISS, while Boeing has yet to achieve a successful crewed mission.
Following three delays in its return flight, Boeing Starliner currently lacks a scheduled landing date. The crew has a total of 45 days to safely return, with 18 days already passed.