Starliner to Make Uncrewed Return to Flight in Late December

Boeing and NASA are planning to return the CST-100 Starliner space taxi to flight in late December or January with an uncrewed cargo run to the International Space Station (ISS).

The move comes more than two years after a troubled crewed flight test of the spacecraft, which was prompted by safety issues.

According to NASA, the Starliner reached the ISS for a crewed flight test on June 6, 2024. However, due to concerns about the spacecraft's systems and performance, NASA decided to return it uncrewed.

The December or January flight will be the fourth in a series of tests aimed at ensuring the safety of the Starliner before it is cleared for crewed missions.