NASA · Space

NASA and Boeing Plan Additional Starliner Flights and Rocket Certification

NASA and Boeing are moving forward with plans for additional crewed missions using the Starliner spacecraft and certifying a new rocket for space transport.

NASA intends to exercise options for two more flights of Boeing's Starliner to the International Space Station (ISS). The agency also plans to work with Boeing and United Launch Alliance to certify the Vulcan rocket for crew transport, following the retirement of the Atlas V rocket.

The next Starliner mission, Starliner-1, will be uncrewed and is scheduled to fly in December 2026 or January 2027. This mission aims to validate improvements made to the spacecraft, gather flight data, and assess thermal performance before crewed flights can resume.

A NASA investigation identified 61 recommendations following issues during Starliner's 2024 crewed test flight, primarily concerning the service module's reaction control thrusters. Problems were linked to the thermal environment and design features.

Boeing has implemented thermal modifications to the service module, which NASA will evaluate on Starliner-1. An additional thruster valve design modification is also planned to address poppet seal extrusion and improve thruster performance.

Future improvements to the Starliner include new crew module thrusters, batteries, and modifications to the parachute system for enhanced performance and reliability.

The goal of NASA's commercial crew program is to maintain U.S. capability for crew transportation to space, supporting the conclusion of ISS operations and the transition to commercial space stations.

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