Boeing's Starliner won't launch astronauts until 2028 (and may need a new rocket), NASA says

NASA has announced that Boeing's Starliner spacecraft will not carry astronauts until 2028 following a series of technical setbacks. The agency is currently evaluating the vehicle's certification and potential future mission requirements.
Why it matters
This delay impacts the reliability of the commercial crew program and NASA's long-term strategy for maintaining access to the International Space Station.
"NASA is uncertain as to when ... human-rating certification for the Starliner will be obtained."
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Click for next article Boeing's Starliner spacecraft is pictured docked to the Harmony module's forward port at the International Space Station during its Crew Flight Test mission in 2024. (Image credit: NASA) Copy link Reddit Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Boeing's Starliner spacecraft will fly astronauts again - but not until 2028.
If all goes according to plan, Starliner will conduct an uncrewed test flight to the International Space Station (ISS) this coming December or January, then carry astronauts up sometime in 2028, NASA announced in an update today (Sept. 28).
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