NASA announces new missions for Boeing's Starliner spacecraft
NASA has announced plans for new missions using Boeing's Starliner spacecraft following a problematic test flight that left astronauts stranded at the ISS. The agency intends to conduct an uncrewed validation mission in December before attempting a crewed flight in 2028.
Why it matters
The reliability of the Starliner is critical for NASA's long-term space exploration goals and maintaining a competitive commercial crew program.
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NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman (L) and NASA's Low Earth Orbit Program Manager Dana Weigel discuss an update on the Boeing Starliner spacecraft at a news conference at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, the US, September 28, 2026. /VCG
NASA announced on Monday it was planning new missions using Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, the first since the vessel's botched test flight left two astronauts stranded at the International Space Station (ISS) for months.
Starliner was last used in June 2024 to transport US astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore to the ISS for what was originally a mission of eight to 14 days.
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