What goes up must come down, unless it is a Boeing (NYSE:BA) Starliner. The spacecraft has been struggling with helium leaks (for propulsion) and engine problems (for deorbiting) since its flight to the International Space Station in June, stranding astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams in the most remote areas the thermosphere. The mission to the ISS was supposed to last only eight days, but two months have already passed and now there is talk that the situation by early 2025.

Snapshot: As the investigation continues, disagreements have arisen regarding the data and potential risks associated with Starliner. While Boeing (BA) has vouched for the craft, NASA leadership is still debating whether the vehicle can be considered safe for return to Earth. The agency is currently considering a plan to return the astronauts via Boeing competitor SpaceX (SPACE), which has already delivered food and supplies to the station, including extra clothing for Wilmore and Williams.

The coming weeks will be crucial as a decision must be made on whether to allocate two free slots to the next SpaceX mission – whose launch has been postponed to September and whose return date is February 2025. “If NASA decides to change the mission, we will take the necessary steps to configure Starliner for an unmanned return,” Boeing (BA) responded in a statement. But this would be the latest in a series of reputational problems for the company (MAX jet crashes, doorstop bubble and guilty plea) that new Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg, who takes office on Thursday, will have to resolve.

NASA’s Commercial Crew Program was designed as a multi-stage competition to attract private sector companies to develop the most cost-effective, innovative and safe way to get to the International Space Station. While SpaceX (SPACE) has already sent nine crewed missions to the ISS with its Crew Dragon capsule, Boeing (BA) has so far suffered $1.4 billion in accounting losses for its program, as well as many problems and delays in flight testing and manufacturing. If Boeing (BA) has further problems getting the Starliner approved, it would be a major blow to the ambitions of the aerospace giant, whose history stretches back to the Apollo moon missions.

“I am extremely honored and humbled to join this iconic company,” said Ortberg, who previously led aerospace company Rockwell Collins, after his appointment in late July. “Boeing has a tremendous and rich history as a leader and pioneer in our industry, and I am committed to continuing that tradition with the company’s more than 170,000 dedicated employees, putting safety and quality first. There is a lot to do, and I’m excited to get started.”

SA comment: “With his degree in mechanical engineering, he brings experience in the right field to lead Boeing (BA),” noted Dhierin Bechai, head of the Aerospace Forum’s investment group. “His experience in corporate integration most likely put him at the top of the list given the upcoming integration of Spirit AeroSystems (SPR) into Boeing (BA).”

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