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The Starliner problem never gets any better; in fact, it keeps getting worse with each passing day. This ongoing issue is costing Boeing millions of dollars daily as they delay the return of astronauts. Recent reports about Boeing's losses, both financially and in terms of reputation, are terrifying for the company. Today, we will dive into these details. But before we delve any deeper, please make sure to subscribe to our channel for future updates about the latest information in the space world. When astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on June 5, 2024, the plan was straightforward. They were supposed to test Boeing’s newest spacecraft, the Starliner, dock briefly with the International Space Station and return to Earth in about a week. Instead, a series of technical malfunctions has led to indefinite delays, with their return now pushed to mid-August at the earliest. This is not the first problem Boeing has encountered with the Starliner. The spacecraft has been plagued by issues since its development began. In its first uncrewed test flight in 2019, a software glitch placed the spacecraft in the wrong orbit, preventing it from reaching the international space station. The second attempt was scrubbed due to a faulty fuel valve. Other problems, including issues with parachutes and the discovery of flammable tape within the spacecraft, have caused further delays. The current mission, Starliner’s third attempt, has faced significant hurdles. Engineers discovered multiple helium leaks in the spacecraft's thruster system during the 25-hour flight to the international space station. Additionally, several thrusters failed, which delayed the craft’s docking with the international space station’s Harmony module and subsequently postponed its return to Earth. The spacecraft is currently docked to the international space station as NASA and Boeing engineers work to resolve these issues. Engineers have been conducting these tests at the White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico, disassembling thrusters and inspecting them part by part to gather data. The astronauts have been performing various maintenance tasks and scientific projects aboard the international space station during their extended stay. They also regularly return to the Starliner capsule to work through the thruster issues with engineers at ground control. Despite the delays, the astronauts have remained confident in the spacecraft’s ability to bring them home safely. However, the uncertainty and repeated extensions of their mission have raised concerns about the Starliner's reliability. Most of us might think the problem with Boeing’s Starliner is about reputation, but there is a bigger issue at hand. The Starliner program has been costing millions of dollars for every day of delay. The company has reported additional losses of $125 million, bringing the total losses on the Starliner program to $1.6 billion. It's also important to think about the long-term implications. The long-term losses might be even bigger, potentially reaching billions. Future customers will be very skeptical about the Starliner. Imagine a customer who wants to launch astronauts: would they pick a company that failed to safely send and return astronauts, or a company as reliable as SpaceX, which has consistently completed its missions successfully? Of course, they would pick SpaceX. Even Musk commented on this, saying, “the world doesn't need another capsule.“ The Starliner program was part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program which was initially expected to be a cornerstone in the return of American crewed spaceflights. Boeing was awarded a substantial contract of $4.3 billion to develop and operate the Starliner. In contrast, SpaceX was awarded $2.6 billion for its Crew Dragon development. Despite the higher funding, Boeing has faced more significant challenges and delays compared to SpaceX. Keywords:- Starliner stuck astronouts, boieng starliner, Starliner astronouts, boeing vs spacex, Spacex rocket launch videos,Spacex falcon 9 launch video,spacex super heavyrocket,Super Heavy booster,Super Heavy booster engine fire,spacex fire test,super heavy engine fire,super heavy launch 2022,super heavy sapacex,SpaceX rocket launch,spacex starship,spacex super heavy,spacex,spacex amazing launch,SpaceX vs NASA
