Скачать или смотреть Astronaut Safety and Program Challenges: The Boeing Starliner Case Study

Becoming an astronaut is often seen as one of the most exciting and adventurous careers in the world. Many grow up dreaming of floating in zero gravity, exploring space, and gazing down at Earth from orbit. However, the reality of the job is far more complex—and often dangerous. A recent mission involving Boeing's Starliner spacecraft has brought those risks into sharp focus, revealing just how quickly things can go wrong in space.

In June 2024, NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams launched aboard Boeing’s Starliner for what was supposed to be a routine 8-day mission. But shortly after reaching orbit, serious malfunctions began to emerge. As they approached the International Space Station, Wilmore had to take manual control of the capsule when four of its thrusters failed. Without them, steering the spacecraft became nearly impossible. The situation became so precarious that Wilmore admitted he wasn’t sure if they would be able to return to Earth at all.

The capsule's navigation system began to drift, and communication with ground control was crucial. Wilmore and Williams relied heavily on their training and unspoken coordination, facing a dire scenario where any further malfunction could have left them stranded in space. Eventually, NASA’s team managed to reboot the thrusters, allowing the capsule to dock with the space station. But concerns about the Starliner’s safety didn’t end there.

Instead of returning as planned, the astronauts remained aboard the ISS for an astonishing 286 days while NASA and Boeing worked to assess the spacecraft’s issues. It became clear that Starliner wasn’t a reliable return vehicle, forcing NASA to coordinate their return via SpaceX’s Crew Dragon. In March 2025, they finally made it home safely—nearly nine months after their launch.

Beyond the technical dangers, the mission also shed light on the physical and emotional toll of extended spaceflight, including muscle loss, bone weakening, and radiation exposure. Adding insult to injury, many were shocked to learn that astronauts receive modest compensation for such high-risk missions. Wilmore and Williams earned between $94,000 and $123,000 for their time in space, with just $5 per day in space allowances. The figure sparked widespread criticism, even drawing a response from former President Donald Trump, who offered to pay them himself and praised SpaceX for stepping in.

The Starliner incident is not isolated. Boeing has struggled with the spacecraft’s development for years. Its first uncrewed test in December 2019 failed due to a critical software error, and later tests were delayed by mechanical issues, including corroded valves and faulty components that couldn't be examined post-flight due to the capsule’s destructive re-entry process. Although a second uncrewed flight in 2022 reached the ISS, it too encountered propulsion and cooling anomalies. Despite these setbacks, NASA moved forward with the crewed mission in 2024—a decision now under scrutiny.

The near-disaster faced by Wilmore and Williams raises serious questions about the future of Boeing’s Starliner program. With such a troubled track record, many are now calling for the project to be reevaluated—or even canceled entirely—for the safety of future crews.