NASA Clears Boeing Starliner for Another Uncrewed Test Flight

NASA has given Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft another opportunity to prove itself after a series of setbacks. The decision comes after the 2024 test flight, where malfunctions left astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) for months. NASA’s scathing report labeled the incident a “Type A mishap” and issued 61 recommendations to address the issues. Despite the past failures, NASA administrator Jared Isaacman expressed confidence in Boeing’s progress, announcing a new timeline for Starliner’s return to flight.

The next test flight, scheduled for December, will be uncrewed. If successful, NASA plans to conduct a crewed test flight by 2028. Boeing has identified the cause of the 2024 thruster failure as corrosion and has developed a new method to prevent it. The spacecraft will also switch from the ULA Atlas V to the Vulcan rocket, though the Vulcan is not yet certified for human spaceflight, requiring additional certification efforts.

The total cost for these fixes and certification is estimated at $359 million, on top of the $5.1 billion NASA has already paid Boeing and the $2 billion in cost overruns Boeing has covered. NASA remains committed to having multiple commercial crew providers, noting the value of competition. The agency plans to purchase additional Starliner flights once the spacecraft is operational, ensuring continued access to space even as the ISS is phased out by the 2030s.