NASA announces new missions for Boeing Starliner spacecraft
NASA has announced new missions for Boeing's Starliner spacecraft following a test flight that left two astronauts stranded at the ISS. The agency plans an uncrewed mission in December to validate safety improvements before attempting a crewed flight in 2028.
Why it matters
The reliability of the Starliner is critical for maintaining U.S. access to the International Space Station as SpaceX remains the only other provider.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:
Add as preferred source Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain NASA announced Monday that it is planning new missions using Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, the first since a troubled test flight left two astronauts stranded at the International Space Station for months.
Starliner was last used in June 2024 to transport U.S. astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore to the ISS for a mission originally planned to last eight to 14 days.
But the spacecraft's propulsion system had problems in orbit, and Starliner was deemed unfit to fly them back—leaving them at the orbiting outpost for nine months before they could return.
Also covering this story
4 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
NASA reveals new plan for Boeing’s troubled Starliner spacecraft
Boeing's Starliner won't launch astronauts until 2028 (and may need a new rocket), NASA says
NASA Announces New Missions For Boeing Starliner Spacecraft
NASA announces new missions for Boeing's Starliner spacecraft
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in