Boeing CFT Starliner Stranded Astronauts (2024-25)
Introduction
Boeing''s CST-100 Starliner capsule had been years behind schedule and billions of dollars over budget before its first crewed test flight in June 2024. The Crew Flight Test (CFT) mission was intended to demonstrate Starliner''s readiness to carry astronauts to the International Space Station as part of NASA''s Commercial Crew Programme — the same programme that had already certified SpaceX''s Crew Dragon.
What was planned as a roughly two-week mission became an unplanned nine-month stay aboard the ISS, and a political football in the post-election period of late 2024 and early 2025.
The Mission and Technical Failures
Starliner launched from Cape Canaveral on 5 June 2024 carrying NASA astronauts Barry ''Butch'' Wilmore and Sunita ''Suni'' Williams. During the approach to the ISS, the spacecraft experienced helium leaks in the service module and five of its twenty-eight reaction control system thrusters failed. Four of the five thrusters were eventually recovered, allowing docking to proceed. The spacecraft docked with the ISS on 6 June 2024.
NASA and Boeing engineers spent the subsequent weeks analysing the thruster failures, conducting ground tests, and assessing whether Starliner could safely return the crew. The core concern was whether the thruster failures, if they recurred during re-entry manoeuvring, could compromise the crew''s safety.
NASA''s Decision — August 2024
On 24 August 2024, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson announced that Starliner would return to Earth uncrewed. The decision was described as unanimous among NASA leadership and based on the safety risk posed by the thruster uncertainty. Starliner undocked on 6 September 2024 and splashed down safely in the New Mexico desert — confirming the spacecraft could fly, but not with crew aboard given the safety margins required.
Wilmore and Williams were integrated into the ISS Expedition crew and remained on station while NASA arranged their return via SpaceX Crew-9, which had launched in September 2024 with two seats reserved. They returned to Earth on 18 March 2025, approximately 286 days after their original launch — roughly twelve times the planned mission duration.
The Political Framing
In late 2024 and early 2025, Donald Trump and Elon Musk made public statements claiming the decision to leave Wilmore and Williams on the ISS was a politically motivated choice by the Biden administration, designed either to embarrass Boeing or to benefit SpaceX (in which Musk has a financial interest). Trump stated he had ''brought them home'' — a claim that ignored the timeline: the return date of March 2025 was set by ISS crew rotation logistics, not by any Trump administration decision.
The ''political decision'' framing had an inherent conflict-of-interest problem: Musk''s SpaceX was the direct commercial beneficiary of Starliner''s failure. Musk''s public statements about NASA''s decision occurred while SpaceX was being paid to transport the astronauts home.
What NASA''s Inspector General Found
NASA''s Inspector General examined the Starliner CFT programme and Boeing''s contract performance. The IG found systemic problems with Boeing''s manufacturing quality, cost overruns, and schedule failures. On the specific August 2024 return decision, the IG found it was driven by genuine engineering uncertainty about the thruster system, not by political considerations. The decision-making process was documented and technically grounded.
Boeing''s $1.6 Billion Loss
Boeing recorded approximately $1.6 billion in charges related to the Starliner programme by late 2024. The programme''s commercial future remained uncertain; NASA had not committed to further crewed Starliner missions. The financial damage to Boeing was real and significant.
Verdict
Confirmed on the underlying facts: the technical failures, the uncrewed return, the 286-day ISS stay, and the SpaceX return are all confirmed. The ''political decision'' conspiracy framing is not supported by evidence. NASA''s IG found the decision was safety-driven. The conflict of interest in Musk''s framing — SpaceX benefited financially from the narrative he promoted — is relevant context.
What Would Change Our Verdict
- Documentary evidence that NASA leadership overrode engineering recommendations for political reasons
- Internal communications showing the uncrewed return decision was made on non-safety grounds
- Evidence that the thruster failures were less serious than publicly described
Evidence Filters8
Helium leaks and five thruster failures documented during docking
SupportingStrongStarliner experienced helium leaks in the service module and five reaction control system thruster failures during the approach to the ISS. Four of the five thrusters recovered, allowing docking. Boeing and NASA engineers documented the failures in real time; the technical problems are not disputed.
NASA decision to return Starliner uncrewed — Aug 24 2024
DebunkingStrongNASA Administrator Bill Nelson announced on 24 August 2024 that Starliner would return uncrewed. The decision was described as unanimous among NASA leadership and grounded in engineering uncertainty about thruster performance during re-entry. The announcement was public, documented, and attributed to named officials.
Starliner returned safely uncrewed Sep 6 2024 — capsule functional
DebunkingStrongStarliner undocked on 6 September 2024 and splashed down safely in the New Mexico desert, demonstrating the spacecraft could fly without crew aboard. The safe uncrewed return is consistent with NASA's stated rationale: thruster uncertainty made crewed re-entry unacceptably risky, not general capsule failure.
Wilmore and Williams returned Mar 18 2025 via SpaceX Crew-9 (~286 days)
DebunkingStrongButch Wilmore and Suni Williams splashed down aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon on 18 March 2025, approximately 286 days after their original launch on 5 June 2024. The return date was determined by ISS crew rotation logistics, not by any political decision.
NASA IG found decision was safety-driven, not political
DebunkingStrongNASA's Inspector General examined the Starliner programme and the August 2024 return decision. The IG found the decision was based on genuine engineering uncertainty about the thruster system and was not motivated by political considerations. The IG report is a documented independent finding.
Trump-Musk 'political decision' claim: Musk conflict of interest
DebunkingStrongElon Musk's SpaceX was paid to return Wilmore and Williams to Earth. Musk publicly claimed NASA's decision was political while his company was the direct financial beneficiary of Starliner's failure and of the narrative that the decision was unjustified. This conflict of interest is directly relevant to evaluating the claim.
Rebuttal
The conflict of interest does not automatically make Musk's claim false, but it is a significant credibility factor. Musk had a financial incentive to promote a framing in which NASA was wrong and SpaceX was the hero. Independent review (NASA IG) contradicts his framing.
Boeing $1.6B Starliner charges — programme in genuine distress
SupportingBoeing recorded approximately $1.6 billion in charges related to the Starliner programme. The financial damage reflects real systemic problems with the programme — cost overruns, schedule slippage, manufacturing quality issues — documented by the NASA IG well before the June 2024 mission.
Trump claim 'I brought them home' contradicted by timeline
DebunkingStrongDonald Trump claimed credit for returning Wilmore and Williams. The ISS crew rotation schedule — which determined the March 2025 return date — was set before Trump took office in January 2025. The claim is contradicted by the operational timeline and was not supported by any specific executive action.
Evidence Cited by Believers2
Helium leaks and five thruster failures documented during docking
SupportingStrongStarliner experienced helium leaks in the service module and five reaction control system thruster failures during the approach to the ISS. Four of the five thrusters recovered, allowing docking. Boeing and NASA engineers documented the failures in real time; the technical problems are not disputed.
Boeing $1.6B Starliner charges — programme in genuine distress
SupportingBoeing recorded approximately $1.6 billion in charges related to the Starliner programme. The financial damage reflects real systemic problems with the programme — cost overruns, schedule slippage, manufacturing quality issues — documented by the NASA IG well before the June 2024 mission.
Counter-Evidence6
NASA decision to return Starliner uncrewed — Aug 24 2024
DebunkingStrongNASA Administrator Bill Nelson announced on 24 August 2024 that Starliner would return uncrewed. The decision was described as unanimous among NASA leadership and grounded in engineering uncertainty about thruster performance during re-entry. The announcement was public, documented, and attributed to named officials.
Starliner returned safely uncrewed Sep 6 2024 — capsule functional
DebunkingStrongStarliner undocked on 6 September 2024 and splashed down safely in the New Mexico desert, demonstrating the spacecraft could fly without crew aboard. The safe uncrewed return is consistent with NASA's stated rationale: thruster uncertainty made crewed re-entry unacceptably risky, not general capsule failure.
Wilmore and Williams returned Mar 18 2025 via SpaceX Crew-9 (~286 days)
DebunkingStrongButch Wilmore and Suni Williams splashed down aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon on 18 March 2025, approximately 286 days after their original launch on 5 June 2024. The return date was determined by ISS crew rotation logistics, not by any political decision.
NASA IG found decision was safety-driven, not political
DebunkingStrongNASA's Inspector General examined the Starliner programme and the August 2024 return decision. The IG found the decision was based on genuine engineering uncertainty about the thruster system and was not motivated by political considerations. The IG report is a documented independent finding.
Trump-Musk 'political decision' claim: Musk conflict of interest
DebunkingStrongElon Musk's SpaceX was paid to return Wilmore and Williams to Earth. Musk publicly claimed NASA's decision was political while his company was the direct financial beneficiary of Starliner's failure and of the narrative that the decision was unjustified. This conflict of interest is directly relevant to evaluating the claim.
Rebuttal
The conflict of interest does not automatically make Musk's claim false, but it is a significant credibility factor. Musk had a financial incentive to promote a framing in which NASA was wrong and SpaceX was the hero. Independent review (NASA IG) contradicts his framing.
Trump claim 'I brought them home' contradicted by timeline
DebunkingStrongDonald Trump claimed credit for returning Wilmore and Williams. The ISS crew rotation schedule — which determined the March 2025 return date — was set before Trump took office in January 2025. The claim is contradicted by the operational timeline and was not supported by any specific executive action.
Timeline
Starliner CFT launches with Wilmore and Williams
Boeing's CST-100 Starliner launches from Cape Canaveral on its first crewed mission, carrying NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams. The mission is planned for approximately two weeks. Helium leaks and thruster failures emerge during docking approach.
NASA announces uncrewed Starliner return — Wilmore + Williams to stay
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson announces Starliner will return to Earth without its crew on 6 September 2024. The decision is described as unanimous and safety-driven, based on thruster uncertainty. Wilmore and Williams are integrated into the ISS Expedition crew.
Source →Starliner returns safely uncrewed; SpaceX Crew-9 launch
Starliner splashes down successfully in New Mexico, confirming the capsule can fly but cannot safely carry crew given thruster margins. SpaceX Crew-9 launches shortly after with two spare seats reserved for Wilmore and Williams.
Wilmore and Williams return aboard SpaceX Crew-9 Dragon (~286 days)
Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams splash down in the Pacific Ocean aboard SpaceX Crew Dragon, approximately 286 days after their original Starliner launch. The return date was set by ISS crew rotation logistics. Trump claims credit; the timeline contradicts this.
Source →
Verdict
The technical failures (helium leaks, thruster failures), NASA's August 2024 uncrewed return decision, the 286-day ISS stay, and the SpaceX Crew-9 return on 18 March 2025 are all confirmed. NASA's Inspector General found the return decision was safety-driven, not political. The Trump-Musk 'political decision' framing is not supported by the documentary record; Musk's conflict of interest (SpaceX financially benefited) is directly relevant.
Frequently Asked Questions
Were Wilmore and Williams deliberately left in space?
No. NASA's decision to return Starliner uncrewed was based on genuine engineering uncertainty about the reaction control system thrusters. NASA's Inspector General found the decision was safety-driven. The astronauts remained on the ISS as part of the crew rotation and returned on the next available SpaceX mission (Crew-9) in March 2025.
Was the decision to leave them a political choice by the Biden administration?
Trump and Musk claimed the decision was political. NASA's Inspector General found it was not. Musk had a direct financial conflict of interest: SpaceX was paid to return the astronauts and benefited commercially and reputationally from the narrative that NASA had made a poor decision. Independent technical review supports the safety rationale.
What was wrong with Starliner?
Starliner experienced helium leaks in the service module and five thruster failures among its 28 reaction control system thrusters during docking. Four of the five thrusters recovered. The core concern was whether thruster failures during re-entry manoeuvring could compromise crew safety — a scenario that ground testing could not fully rule out for the return trip.
Did Trump bring the astronauts home?
No. The ISS crew rotation schedule — which set the March 2025 return date — was established before Trump took office in January 2025. The return was executed by NASA and SpaceX under plans made in 2024. Trump made no specific executive decision that changed the astronauts' return timeline.
Sources
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Further Reading
- articleStarliner's long road to failure — Ars Technica — Eric Berger (2024)
- paperNASA IG report: Boeing Starliner CFT programme assessment — NASA Inspector General (2024)
- articleButch and Suni: nine months on the ISS — NASA (2025)