NASA releases report on Starliner crewed test flight problems
Posted: Sun, Feb 22, 2026, 11:45 AM ET (1645 GMT)
NASA released a report Thursday describing serious technical and organizational failures during the Starliner crewed test flight in 2024. That flight suffered multiple thruster failures during its approach to the International Space Station, and NASA ultimately decided to bring the spacecraft back uncrewed. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said the biggest problem with the flight was not any technical failures but “decision-making and leadership that, if left unchecked, could create a culture incompatible with human spaceflight.” That included debates about what to do with Starliner once it docked at the station that “deteriorated into unprofessional conduct” as well as a lack of engagement from agency leadership at the time. NASA said it was formally classifying the flight as a “Type A” mishap, its most serious type, and Isaacman vowed to implement “leadership accountability” for the incident. He added that Starliner would not fly again until all the issues with the spacecraft are identified and corrected.
NASA released a report Thursday describing serious technical and organizational failures during the Starliner crewed test flight in 2024. That flight suffered multiple thruster failures during its approach to the International Space Station, and NASA ultimately decided to bring the spacecraft back uncrewed. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said the biggest problem with the flight was not any technical failures but “decision-making and leadership that, if left unchecked, could create a culture incompatible with human spaceflight.” That included debates about what to do with Starliner once it docked at the station that “deteriorated into unprofessional conduct” as well as a lack of engagement from agency leadership at the time. NASA said it was formally classifying the flight as a “Type A” mishap, its most serious type, and Isaacman vowed to implement “leadership accountability” for the incident. He added that Starliner would not fly again until all the issues with the spacecraft are identified and corrected.
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