NASA and Boeing are gearing up for the next flight of the Starliner spacecraft, following a series of technical setbacks that delayed its ability to return astronauts to Earth. On Thursday, NASA announced its collaboration with Boeing to address the spacecraft’s in-flight issues before scheduling a crewed mission, potentially set for later this year or early 2026.
The first successful launch of the Boeing Starliner occurred in June, transporting astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore to the International Space Station for what was intended to be a week-long mission. However, complications with the spacecraft’s thruster, valve, and helium systems led to an early return to Earth in September. Williams and Wilmore were subsequently brought back aboard SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission earlier this month.
Following Starliner’s return, NASA and Boeing have been thoroughly analyzing the data collected, focusing on significant propulsion system anomalies encountered during flight. Plans are underway to test key Starliner thrusters and to further examine a newly designed helium system seal.
Steve Stich, manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, commented, “Once we get through these planned test campaigns, we will have a better idea of when we can go fly the next Boeing flight.”
