The Boeing Starliner spacecraft has had its return to Earth delayed numerous times over the past two months. The trip was initially meant to span less than two weeks and is now closing in on 57 days as two American astronauts don’t know when they’ll be able to return.
Amid the ongoing Boeing controversies, this newest blunder will cost the company $125 million with a further $1.44 billion net loss in Q2 alone.
Boeing Whistleblower Controversy
Boeing’s downfall first began earlier this year when their ongoing whistleblower lawsuit resulted in the death of two former employees. The deceased were current and former Boeing employees who took part in the lawsuit against the company.
The complaints alleged that Boeing intentionally skipped necessary safety checks on planes. In the past few years, multiple Boeing planes have crashed or malfunctioned due to substandard safety features.
The Starliner Spacecraft
This summer, Boeing launched their much anticipated spacecraft, the Starliner. On board are two NASA astronauts, Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore. They reached the International Space Station (ISS) on June 6 and haven’t been able to leave yet.
The initial trip was only meant to take eight days. However, mechanical issues were soon discovered with the thrusters on board. Delaying the trip indefinitely.
What Are the Issues With the Spacecraft?
The astronauts onboard the spacecraft have reported issues with the thrusters that steer the ship and helium leaks on board.
According to Phys, four of the engines that direct the craft in space are now working optimally. However, the engineers back on Earth aren’t sure what caused the initial issue.
Test Launches Were Not Good
Technical issues plagued the team in the years leading up to the launch of the spacecraft. In May of this year, a pressure relief valve on the Atlas 5 rocket led to the first delay.
Then, more ground computers experienced a total shutdown, which led to the second delay. On June 5, the launch was finally successful, only for the astronauts on board to discover issues with the Reactive Control System (RCS) thrusters and five helium leaks.
How Will the Astronauts Get Home?
There are a number of safe options to return the astronauts safely to Earth. Part of the delay with the departure is that engineers want to be able to fix the issue remotely and allow the spacecraft to return without additional assistance.
If this plan doesn’t work, there is another spacecraft that can be sent to the rescue. A crew with SpaceX on board the Dragon can easily be sent to pick up the two astronauts. In the meantime, more tests and troubleshooting will take place in an attempt to fix the craft. “We have two different systems that we’re flying,” Steve Stich, the manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, said in a press briefing on July 25. He was referring to the Boeing Starliner and SpaceX’s Crew Dragon.
Massive Losses for Boeing
Before the recent report of losses related to the Starliner spacecraft, Boeing released a statement that they have been losing billions each month as planes are backlogged in their factories unable to be delivered.
More than 200 unfinished jets are sitting in airfields, outside of airline hangers, and even in empty employee parking lots. Needed parts have been delayed for months and the issue is now compounding throughout the airline industry.
More Bad News for the Airline Giant
On top of the massive losses already reported, the company has filed a notice with the SEC on Wednesday of this week claiming that they have “increased the reach-forward loss on the program by $125 million.”
The company allegedly lost a total of $288 million in 2023 after delaying the launch of the Starliner multiple times due to mechanical issues.
Burning Billions in Cash
The company has said that they burned through a total of $4.3 billion in cash with a reported net loss of $1.44 billion during the second quarter (April, May, and June) of 2024.
The financial troubles boil down to the company’s inability to quickly and internally resolve mechanical issues with their air and space crafts.
Two Fatal Plane Crashes
Five years ago, two 737 Max jets killed a total of 346 people. After years of investigations, it was finally proven that the Boeing manufactured planes did not have adequate safety measures.
The first plane went down in Indonesia and the second was in Ethiopia. Boeing has been made to pay out billions in restitution to the families involved.
Criminal Charges
As part of the settlement for the investigation, Boeing agreed to plead guilty to criminal fraud charges related to the two 737 jet crashes.
Under the plea deal, Boeing will have to pay an additional fine of $243.6 million on top of the $243.6 that was already paid out in 2021 as part of the settlement agreement.
Forced To Spend Millions on Investments
As part of the settlement for other issues with the company, Boeing will be required to spend $455 million on compliance and safety programs.
As well, the company is being forced to appoint an independent monitor to oversee the company to ensure that short cuts are no longer taken at the expense of human life for profit.
