--- title: "Russia Mocks Boeing, Offering to Fix Its Broken Starliner Spacecraft" description: "From Russia With Love Both SpaceX and Boeing developed spacecraft capable of hoisting astronauts into orbit as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew program. But the Elon Musk-led company is running circles around its competition, having launched several astronaut crews to the International Space Station. Meanwhile, Boeing’s Starliner has had to endure setback after setback. Most […]" date: "2021-08-10" modified: "2021-08-10" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/russia-offers-boeing-fix-starliner" categories: - "Boeing" - "Space" tags: - "boeing" - "Roscosmos" - "Russia" - "starliner" - "the digest" --- # Russia Mocks Boeing, Offering to Fix Its Broken Starliner Spacecraft ![Things are getting so bad for Boeing's development of its Starliner spacecraft, even Russia's space agency Roscosmos is offering to help out.]() *\Image: Boeing/Futurism\* ## From Russia With Love Both SpaceX and Boeing developed spacecrafts designed to hoist astronauts into orbit as part of NASA's Commercial Crew program. But so far, SpaceX is running circles around Boeing, having launched [several astronaut crews]() to the International Space Station. Meanwhile, Boeing's Starliner has endured setback after setback. Most recently, [13 valves in its propulsion system failed]() to properly open during a preflight test, yet [another delay]() before finally getting the capsule off the ground. Now, Russia's space agency Roscosmos appears to be mocking Boeing's efforts by [offering to help fix the broken Starliner](). According to [Russian state news agency *TASS*](), the MV Keldysh research center, owned and operated by Roscosmos, is ready to assist Boeing in solving the many issues it's facing with Starliner — though it failed to elaborate on exactly how it plans to help out. ## Catastrophic Failure Boeing has had to delay the second launch of its Starliner spacecraft several times since a fateful maiden voyage in December 2019, which [almost ended in a "catastrophic failure,"]() according to a NASA safety review panel. Ever since, Boeing has been struggling to right Starliner's many wrongs at NASA's request. Starliner has yet to successfully reach the International Space Station, with or without a crew on board. Whether Russia's assistance will help the ailing aeronautics corporation to get there is unlikely. Its offer of help does come at an ironic moment, though — just a week after its Nauka module of the ISS [accidentally fired its thrusters](), flipping the entire station over in a serious safety incident. "Boeing can't get Starliner's propulsion valves open, and Roscosmos couldn't get Nauka's propellant valves closed," [quipped one Twitter user](). "Maybe there is some synergy there." **More on Starliner:** *[Something Is Really Screwed Up With Boeing’s Starliner Prototype]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()