Posted: Sat, Jul 4, 2026, 8:11 PM ET (0011 GMT)
Overconfidence and unrealistic schedules played major factors in the ongoing problems with Boeing's CST-100 Starliner commercial crew vehicle. A report released this week by NASA's inspector general found that NASA was overconfident in Boeing's design for the spacecraft based on its use of heritage hardware, and that overconfidence led to unrealistic timelines that created schedule pressure. The report concluded it was unlikely Starliner will be certified for crewed missions to the International Space Station until at least 2027, limiting its use for crew rotation flights before the station is retired in 2030. In a recent interview, Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg said he was confident Starliner would overcome its problems and enter service.

Related Links:

•  SpaceNews article
•  Space.com article
•  Ars Technica article