NASA Unveils Roadmap to Resume Starliner Flights Amid Setbacks and Retirement of Competitor

NASA has unveiled a new plan for Boeing's troubled Starliner spacecraft, which aims to resume regular flights. The agency's administrator, Jared Isaacman, announced that the next flight will be uncrewed and take place no earlier than December.

The mission is part of a larger effort by NASA to ensure reliable crewed access to low Earth orbit. With SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule being retired in the future, Boeing's Starliner program represents the fastest path forward for NASA.

However, issues with the spacecraft's thrusters have plagued its development, including a botched test flight in June 2024 that left two astronauts in space for months longer than expected. The agency has classified this incident as a 'Type A' mishap, which is defined by NASA as an event resulting in more than $2 million of damage or loss of control.

As part of the new plan, Boeing will need to make design modifications and certify its Vulcan Centaur rockets for crewed missions. The agency is expecting to pay an additional $359 million for these upgrades and certifications.