Boeing Starliner Aims for Return to Flight in 2026 After Past Failures

NASA and Boeing are preparing for the next phase of the Boeing Starliner program, following a series of setbacks that have kept the spacecraft grounded since a troubled mission in June 2024. The next step will be an uncrewed cargo flight to the International Space Station (ISS), targeting either December 2026 or January 2027. This mission, dubbed Starliner-1, aims to validate improvements made to the spacecraft after the previous flight encountered significant issues.

The ill-fated 2024 mission left astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams stranded at the ISS for months longer than planned. The Starliner returned to Earth empty, forcing the astronauts to hitch a ride home on a SpaceX Dragon capsule in March 2025. Both astronauts have since retired from NASA, marking the end of their careers.

Looking ahead, NASA and Boeing are eyeing a crewed Starliner mission, tentatively scheduled for no earlier than 2028. The spacecraft will also transition to launching on the new Vulcan rocket from United Launch Alliance (ULA), which is currently undergoing certification. The Vulcan rocket, designed to replace the retiring Atlas V, is intended to become ULA's primary launch vehicle for future missions.

Despite the challenges, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman emphasized the agency's commitment to the Starliner program, stating that NASA has worked closely with Boeing to address past issues and intends to see the spacecraft return to flight. The goal is to certify Starliner as the second operational vehicle capable of reaching the ISS before the station is retired by 2030.