Boeing's Starliner spacecraft recently returned to Earth empty after a problematic crew test flight that exposed significant issues with its thrusters.

During the test flight, a Teflon coating around the thruster valves melted, rendering one thruster inoperable and preventing Starliner from achieving certification.

Initially seen as a competitor to SpaceX's Dragon, Starliner has faced multiple setbacks, including technical issues during its Crew Flight Test.

Due to problems like helium leaks and thruster malfunctions, NASA made the unprecedented decision to return Starliner without a crew, prioritizing safety.

In light of Starliner's problems, NASA has already reassigned astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore to a future SpaceX mission.

A thorough review of the mission data and resolution of technical issues will be necessary, potentially delaying future crewed missions to late 2025 or beyond.

NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy stated that Starliner is currently under data review, with a decision pending on whether another test flight is needed.

NASA has invested approximately $5 billion into the development of the Starliner, underscoring the project's significance to the agency.

As a result of Starliner's ongoing issues, NASA has opted to use SpaceX vehicles exclusively for its 2025 Commercial Crew Program missions.

NASA confirmed that its 2025 missions will only utilize SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft due to the unavailability of Boeing's Starliner.

Astronaut Barry Wilmore emphasized the urgent need for Starliner to be operational, focusing more on its readiness than its timeline.

Despite the challenges, NASA has not completely ruled out the possibility of a Starliner flight in 2025, depending on Boeing's progress towards system certification.