Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
NASA and Boeing are working on more launches for Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. But this time, the challenge is not just technical problems. There is now also a serious problem with who is launching the spacecraft. Like the Dream Chaser spaceplane from Sierra Space, Boeing's Starliner depends completely on rockets from ULA. And this is turning into a big issue.
ULA is having delays and a growing list of missions waiting to fly. This means Boeing's future Starliner flights could be stuck on Earth longer than planned. So the big question is, should Boeing start looking for a different and more reliable rocket provider like SpaceX?
NASA still supports the Boeing Starliner program, even with all the past delays and technical problems. There is a good reason for this: backup. NASA's Commercial Crew Program was designed from the start to have two different spacecraft companies. That way, if something goes wrong with one, the other is still available. And that backup plan is becoming more important now. Some people are worried that political issues might cause problems for the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft in the future.
SpaceX’s Dragon has done very well, but problems between the US President Donald Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk have made people nervous. NASA has used Dragon for many years to send astronauts to the space station. If anything happens to that program, NASA must have another spacecraft ready. But right now, the only two backup vehicles, Boeing’s Starliner and Sierra Space’s Dream Chaser, are not fully ready for use. So NASA is running out of time and needs to act fast.
Boeing and their partner, Aerojet Rocketdyne, must first fix serious problems with the Starliner spacecraft. These include overheating thrusters and helium leaks. These problems were found during a recent mission with astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams. The mission was supposed to last one week but ended up keeping them in space for nine months. Boeing says the fix is simple, but many people are still doubtful. After all, Starliner has had problems for more than ten years.
NASA and Boeing are working on more launches for Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. But this time, the challenge is not just technical problems. There is now also a serious problem with who is launching the spacecraft. Like the Dream Chaser spaceplane from Sierra Space, Boeing's Starliner depends completely on rockets from ULA. And this is turning into a big issue.
ULA is having delays and a growing list of missions waiting to fly. This means Boeing's future Starliner flights could be stuck on Earth longer than planned. So the big question is, should Boeing start looking for a different and more reliable rocket provider like SpaceX?
NASA still supports the Boeing Starliner program, even with all the past delays and technical problems. There is a good reason for this: backup. NASA's Commercial Crew Program was designed from the start to have two different spacecraft companies. That way, if something goes wrong with one, the other is still available. And that backup plan is becoming more important now. Some people are worried that political issues might cause problems for the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft in the future.
SpaceX’s Dragon has done very well, but problems between the US President Donald Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk have made people nervous. NASA has used Dragon for many years to send astronauts to the space station. If anything happens to that program, NASA must have another spacecraft ready. But right now, the only two backup vehicles, Boeing’s Starliner and Sierra Space’s Dream Chaser, are not fully ready for use. So NASA is running out of time and needs to act fast.
Boeing and their partner, Aerojet Rocketdyne, must first fix serious problems with the Starliner spacecraft. These include overheating thrusters and helium leaks. These problems were found during a recent mission with astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams. The mission was supposed to last one week but ended up keeping them in space for nine months. Boeing says the fix is simple, but many people are still doubtful. After all, Starliner has had problems for more than ten years.
