Boeing and NASA have decided that the next Starliner flight will carry cargo instead of astronauts to ensure the spacecraft’s safety. The announcement follows a challenging first crewed mission, after which NASA test pilots Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams docked the Starliner to the International Space Station in 2024. Despite successfully reaching the station, technical issues forced the capsule to return empty, leaving the astronauts aboard the station for over nine months.
Since then, engineers have been addressing thruster and other technical problems. The upcoming cargo mission is scheduled no earlier than April, pending further testing and certification. Boeing emphasized its commitment to the Starliner program and prioritizing astronaut safety. NASA has also reduced the planned Starliner flights from six to four, with three remaining crewed missions intended before the station’s decommissioning in 2030.
NASA’s Commercial Crew Program manager, Steve Stich, noted that the propulsion system continues to undergo rigorous testing. Boeing and SpaceX were contracted in 2014 to transport astronauts to the ISS, with Boeing’s contract valued at $4.2 billion and SpaceX’s at $2.6 billion. SpaceX has already completed 12 crewed missions for NASA, the latest this past summer.
