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Boeing’s Starliner spaceship that’s currently docked to the ISS continues to bleed money as the firm’s latest SEC filings show that it has booked an additional forward loss of $125 million for the ship. Starliner took to the skies in June, and since then, it’s been docked to the ISS as NASA and Boeing run tests related to its thrusters. This has delayed the return date for its crew of two, and as a result, Boeing has increased its loss allocation for Starliner. In its filing, the firm also informs investors that the Starliner program may record additional losses in the future as it builds on $238 million of additional costs already incurred due to its participation in the NASA crewed flight program.
NASA & Boeing Run Key Test On Starliner Ahead Of Crew Return
NASA and Boeing’s latest details for Starliner were shared over the weekend when they confirmed that a planned in space hot fire test of the ship’s thrusters was carried out. This test aimed to evaluate Starliner’s thrusters before the ship undocks from the International Space Station (ISS), and initial results shared by the duo outlined that the thrusters tested had returned to pre flight levels. This test followed Starliner’s docking, during which its thrusters lost power and forced the astronauts to take control of the spacecraft.
The two also tested Starliner’s thrusters on Earth and replicated what they believed was the fault behind the thruster power loss at the time of docking. According to details shared by Boeing’s Mark Nappi, deformed Teflon inside the faulty thrusters led to inadequate fuel flow, which then contributed to a loss of thrust. Starliner has been delayed since NASA and Boeing can only test the thrusters while they are in space. These thrusters are located on its service module, which is jettisoned during return in order to expose the heat shield for the ship’s return journey.
As it troubleshot and tested Starliner in space, Boeing informed investors through an SEC filing that it has increased the reach forward losses for the Starliner program by $125 million. This increase is in addition to the $288 million that Boeing added last year after it had to delay its Crewed Flight Test (CFT) due to problems with Starliner’s parachutes. These losses are moved forward in time and enable firms to adjust their tax liabilities in future years or reporting periods depending on certain factors.
Boeing shared earlier today that teams spent Tuesday practicing an undocking when NASA and Boeing decide on a date. Teams in Texas, Florida and the ISS took part in these simulations and the two astronauts were present inside the spacecraft as part of these operations. Starliner’s crew refilled their ships water systems, according to Boeing, and they also pressure checked their spacesuits on Monday.
Before they decide on a return date, NASA and Boeing will run an agency level review that will evaluate the data from the thruster tests.
