Boeing Starliner May Get Second Chance at NASA Missions
NASA is exploring new opportunities for Boeing's Starliner spacecraft to maintain U.S. access to low-Earth orbit despite technical issues during its last crewed test flight in September 2024.
The agency is discussing using the Starliner for up to 10 additional missions, which would be part of NASA's plans to ensure a sustained U.S. presence in low-Earth orbit and support future private space stations.
Boeing's Starliner was originally selected for six missions but has not flown since its troubled test flight in September 2024, during which thruster failures and technical problems caused NASA to decide against returning the astronauts aboard the spacecraft.
The mission was crewed by NASA astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams, who instead remained on the International Space Station for about nine months before returning aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon.