The Inspector General of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has released a report regarding a years-long delayed rocket development project by Boeing.
According to RT television, after examining Boeing’s rocket development division, NASA’s Inspector General concluded that Boeing’s next-generation launch vehicle, named Block 1B, has fallen behind schedule for several years, has significantly exceeded its budget, and is suffering from a lack of experienced technicians in manufacturing.
The Atlas V rocket carrying the Starliner spacecraft launched from a space station in Florida, USA on May 19, 2022. (Photo: AFP/TTXVN).
In development since 2014, the Block 1B of NASA’s Space Launch System was originally scheduled to launch as part of the Artemis II mission to the Moon next year. However, the launch of this rocket has been postponed to serve the Artemis IV mission, which aims to land on the Moon in 2028. In a statement on August 8, NASA’s Office of Inspector General warned that the new launch timeframe may be delayed once again.
The report also concluded that Boeing bears some responsibility for these delays.
NASA inspectors visited Boeing’s Michoud Assembly Facility in Louisiana and discovered significant quality deficiencies. The number of remediation requests reached 71, which they noted is a high figure for developing a rocket system at this stage.
These deficiencies largely occurred because Boeing lacked sufficient trained and experienced aerospace technicians. The Inspector General’s office found that Boeing’s inexperienced technicians were unable to weld a fuel tank to NASA’s standards. These careless weld joints directly contributed to delays in the development of the rocket’s upper stage.
“Boeing’s process for addressing deficiencies has so far been ineffective, and the company has generally not responded adequately in taking corrective actions when similar quality control issues reoccur,” the report stated.
Initially, Boeing committed to delivering the rocket’s upper stage by February 2021 but now asserts it will be completed by April 2027. The cost of producing the upper stage has also skyrocketed, with NASA estimating it will reach $2.8 billion by 2028, double the 2017 estimate of $962 million provided by Boeing.
The Inspector General’s office recommended that Boeing should face penalties for failing to meet quality control standards. However, NASA’s Deputy Administrator Catherine Koerner stated on August 8 that the company would not be fined.
Boeing once again drew attention in June when its Starliner spacecraft encountered a malfunction, causing two astronauts to become stranded on the International Space Station (ISS). The astronauts were initially scheduled to stay at the ISS for one week but have now been in space for over 65 days, with their return date still unclear. On August 7, NASA announced that these astronauts could be stranded in space until February 2025 when SpaceX’s Crew Dragon is expected to transport new astronauts to space and bring them home.
