NASA announced on Thursday that it is progressing toward certifying Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner for crewed missions, with the goal of a launch later this year or by early 2026. This follows a system fault during Starliner’s inaugural mission to the International Space Station, which led to an extended stay in orbit.
The malfunction of the spacecraft’s propulsion system caused the originally planned eight-day mission to stretch into a nine-month ordeal for NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who eventually returned to Earth in SpaceX’s Dragon capsule earlier this month.
Also Read: NASA Astronauts Butch and Suni Return Safely After Nine Months in Space
NASA and Boeing are now working together to resolve the propulsion issue. Joint teams are finalizing the scope and schedule for tests and analyses that will be conducted in the coming months. These efforts will help prepare the Starliner for its next flight, expected either in late 2025 or early 2026.
Steve Stich, manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, indicated that the timing of the next flight will depend on the successful completion of these tests and preparations.
Boeing has faced significant challenges in the development of the Starliner, with the propulsion system issues adding to the financial burden, which has already exceeded $2 billion for the aerospace company.
