NASA, Boeing outline next steps for Starliner
Summary
NASA plans an uncrewed Starliner-1 mission to the International Space Station as early as December or January 2027, with a crewed Starliner-2 flight targeted for 2028. The agency and Boeing are also preparing further Starliner upgrades and certification work after problems during the spacecraft’s first crewed test flight.
Key Points
- NASA plans to launch an uncrewed Starliner-1 mission to the ISS as early as December or January 2027, followed by a crewed Starliner-2 mission in 2028.
- NASA will exercise options for a fifth and sixth Starliner flight and work with Boeing and United Launch Alliance to certify the Vulcan rocket for crew transport.
- The 2024 crewed Starliner test flight faced thruster issues and helium leaks, forcing NASA to return the spacecraft uncrewed and send the astronauts home on a SpaceX Dragon.
- Boeing and NASA will continue making thermal, thruster, battery, and parachute improvements based on the investigation findings.
