Starliner Astronaut Launch Still Months Away as Boeing Works on Issues

p> Boeing's Starliner astronaut launch is still months away as the company works on issues with the spacecraft.

The Starliner was originally scheduled to launch in July with two NASA astronauts on board, but it was delayed after engineers discovered two new problems with the spacecraft: an issue with its parachutes, and potentially flammable tape that covers internal wiring.

Boeing has since been working to fix these problems, but it says it will be several months before the Starliner is ready to fly astronauts.

The delay is a setback for Boeing, which is competing with SpaceX to provide crew transportation services to the International Space Station. SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft has already flown two successful crewed missions to the ISS, and it is scheduled to launch its third mission in September.

The Starliner's delay is also a disappointment for NASA, which is eager to have a second provider of crew transportation services. The agency has been relying on the Russian Soyuz spacecraft to transport astronauts to the ISS since the Space Shuttle program ended in 2011.

Boeing says it is committed to fixing the problems with the Starliner and that it will be ready to fly astronauts as soon as possible. But the delay is a reminder of the challenges of developing new spacecraft, and it raises questions about whether Boeing will be able to catch up to SpaceX in the race to provide crew transportation services to the ISS.

[Image of Boeing Starliner spacecraft]

[Link to NASA article about Starliner delay](https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/starliner-astronaut-launch-still-months-away-as-boeing-works-on-issues)