NASA Prepares Uncrewed Starliner Flight Ahead of 2028 Crewed Mission

NASA is pushing to launch an uncrewed Starliner flight to the International Space Station (ISS) this winter, ahead of a crewed mission in 2028. The cargo-carrying Starliner-1 mission will test hardware fixes ordered after the troubled 2024 Crew Flight Test and prove that the spacecraft's propulsion system can perform as needed.

The test is crucial for Boeing's CST-100 Starliner program, which aims to provide a second U.S. commercial crew vehicle alongside SpaceX's Crew Dragon. NASA has emphasized the importance of having two independent providers to ensure access to low Earth orbit does not depend on a single spacecraft.

The uncrewed flight will carry cargo and focus on testing propulsion performance and thermal modifications, which were identified as issues in the 2024 test. NASA plans to stress the propulsion system and combine the flight data with redesign work to finish crewed certification.