Starliner's Second Chance: Uncrewed Mission Planned for Early 2027

Boeing's Starliner spacecraft has faced numerous delays and setbacks in its development. Its first crewed mission in June 2024 was marred by thruster issues, forcing NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to return to Earth on a SpaceX Dragon instead of completing the planned 10-day test flight.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman emphasized the importance of certifying Starliner during a recent press conference at Kennedy Space Center. He noted that SpaceX plans to eventually retire its Falcon 9 and Dragon vehicles, making certification of Starliner crucial for both ISS missions and future commercial destinations.

After several engineering upgrades, NASA is planning an uncrewed Boeing Starliner spacecraft launch as early as December on a cargo mission to the International Space Station. A crewed Starliner-2 mission commanded by NASA astronaut Woody Hoburg is scheduled for 2028.