NASA and Boeing Bolster Starliner Contract, Set New Launch Windows

NASA and Boeing have updated their Starliner contract to include resources for human spaceflight certification and support the spacecraft as a long-term provider of crewed missions to low Earth orbit.

The uncrewed Starliner-1 mission, which will carry cargo to the International Space Station (ISS), is planned for December 2026/January 2027. A crewed Starliner-2 mission is set for 2028.

The contract modifications also include enhancements to the spacecraft, such as replacing valves on reaction control system thrusters and adding measures to prevent corrosion. Additionally, Boeing will certify Vulcan for human spaceflight and restore previously made options for the fifth and sixth Starliner missions.

Boeing and NASA teams are confident in the Starliner vehicle, having addressed technical issues identified during the investigation of the Crew Flight Test in 2024. The teams have implemented corrective actions plans for the eight PIT Report recommendations and closed 19 of the 21 in-flight anomalies from the crew flight test.