Boeing has petitioned a Washington federal judge to dismiss a breach of contract claim filed by a Colorado aerospace company, arguing that the claim was submitted beyond the allowable time frame. The motion for judgment on the pleadings contends that the plaintiff’s allegations of patent infringement related to a NASA program contract are untimely and should not proceed.
This legal maneuver comes amid a series of challenges for Boeing’s involvement in NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. Notably, the company’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft has faced significant setbacks. In February 2026, NASA released a report classifying the Starliner’s crewed flight test as a “Type A mishap,” the agency’s most severe failure category. The report cited hardware failures, qualification deficiencies, leadership errors, and organizational shortcomings that posed risks inconsistent with NASA’s human spaceflight safety standards. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman expressed particular concern over the decision-making and leadership failures at both NASA and Boeing. ([nasa.gov](https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-releases-report-on-starliner-crewed-flight-test-investigation/?utm_source=openai))
In response to these issues, NASA and Boeing agreed to modify their contract. The next Starliner mission, designated Starliner-1, is planned as an uncrewed cargo mission to the International Space Station (ISS), targeting a launch no earlier than April 2026. This mission aims to validate system upgrades implemented following the crewed flight test. If successful, Starliner is slated to conduct up to three crewed missions to the ISS. ([nasa.gov](https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/commercialcrew/2025/11/24/nasa-boeing-modify-commercial-crew-contract/?utm_source=openai))
These developments underscore the complexities and challenges inherent in the collaboration between NASA and Boeing within the Commercial Crew Program. The outcome of Boeing’s motion to dismiss the breach of contract claim may further influence the company’s trajectory in its partnership with NASA.