NASA Ponders More Starliner Flights Amid Crew Dragon Exit

NASA and Boeing are discussing additional Starliner flights, potentially as many as 10, after the vehicle's first crewed test in June 2024 left two astronauts on the International Space Station. The talks come as SpaceX's Crew Dragon is set to phase out around 2030.

The Commercial Crew contract was modified in November 2025 to reduce the firm order from six missions to four, with two options and a designated uncrewed cargo mission. Boeing's space unit has faced delays, charges, and potential sale of parts of its NASA portfolio.

A larger NASA order would give Boeing's space unit a path back into crewed transport after years of setbacks, but the company still needs to fix propulsion problems, complete an uncrewed return-to-flight, and certify a new rocket. The Starliner program has already cost over $2 billion on a fixed-price deal valued at about $3.7 billion.