Boeing’s inexperience causing major setbacks to lunar mission, NASA claims

A six-year delay in EUS delivery and ballooning costs are endangering the Artemis IV mission.

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A recent report from NASA’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has placed the blame for significant delays and cost overruns in the Artemis moon mission on Boeing’s mismanagement and inexperienced workforce. 

The 38-page document, released on Wednesday, criticises Boeing’s inadequate quality control practices and insufficiently trained staff, attributing these issues to the escalating costs and scheduling delays in the development of NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) Block 1B.

The SLS Block 1B, a more powerful iteration of NASA’s existing SLS Block 1, is intended for its maiden flight in 2028 as part of the Artemis IV mission, a crewed lunar landing. However, the report reveals that the Exploration Upper Stage (EUS), which Boeing is under contract to build, has seen its budget nearly triple from the original $962 million to an estimated $2.8 billion by 2028. 

Additionally, the EUS delivery has been delayed by an expected six years, threatening the timeline for Artemis IV’s launch.

The report highlights a series of quality control failures at Boeing’s Michoud Assembly Facility, where inspectors found substandard welding on a component of the SLS Core Stage 3, leading to a seven-month delay. 

The OIG attributes these issues to Boeing’s inexperienced technicians and inadequate work order planning.

Despite these challenges, NASA has not penalised Boeing financially, arguing that doing so would violate the terms of their contract. 

Instead, the space agency plans to work with Boeing to improve its quality management system and ensure compliance with contract obligations.

The OIG’s recommendations include a cost overrun analysis of Boeing’s EUS contract and enhanced collaboration between NASA and the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) to address Boeing’s noncompliance with Earned Value Management System (EVMS) requirements. 

While NASA agreed with most of the recommendations, it rejected the idea of imposing financial penalties on Boeing, opting instead for incentives to encourage compliance.

Boeing, under the new leadership of CEO Kelly Ortberg, will be tasked with addressing these quality control issues and ensuring that the SLS Block 1B is ready for its crucial role in NASA’s deep space exploration efforts.