NASA Classifies 2024 Starliner Mission as 'Type A' Mishap After Investigation
NASA has officially designated the 2024 Boeing Starliner crewed flight as a 'Type A' mishap, citing hardware failures and leadership missteps that led to astronauts being stranded on the ISS for 93 days.
NASA has formally classified the 2024 Boeing Starliner crewed flight as a 'Type A' mishap, the agency's highest-level incident classification. This decision follows an independent investigation into the mission that left astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) for 93 days due to propulsion system anomalies.
The Starliner spacecraft launched on June 5, 2024, for what was intended to be an eight-to-14-day mission. However, during its approach to the ISS, the vehicle experienced multiple thruster failures and helium leaks, resulting in a temporary loss of control. Although the crew managed to dock successfully, the propulsion issues prevented a safe return. Consequently, NASA decided to bring the Starliner back to Earth without the astronauts, who eventually returned aboard SpaceX's Crew-9 mission in March 2025.
An independent Program Investigation Team, chartered by NASA in February 2025, identified a combination of hardware failures, qualification gaps, leadership missteps, and cultural breakdowns that collectively posed unacceptable risks to crew safety.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman emphasized the agency's commitment to transparency and accountability, stating, "We are correcting those mistakes. Today, we are formally declaring a Type A mishap and ensuring leadership accountability so situations like this never reoccur."
The 'Type A' mishap classification is triggered by incidents involving loss of life or significant financial damages. While no injuries occurred during the Starliner mission, the loss of spacecraft maneuverability and associated financial costs warranted this designation.
NASA and Boeing are collaborating to address the identified issues, with plans to implement corrective actions before resuming Starliner flights. The agency has stated that future crewed missions will only proceed once technical causes are understood and corrected, the propulsion system is fully qualified, and all investigation recommendations are implemented.
