Boeing and NASA have decided that the next flight of Boeing’s Starliner capsule will not carry astronauts, but instead will be a cargo-only mission. This decision follows the troubled crewed test in 2024, when NASA test pilots Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams were forced to return to Earth aboard a SpaceX vehicle after their Starliner capsule experienced multiple problems during its stay at the International Space Station. The issues prompted NASA to order the Starliner to return empty, leaving the astronauts on the station for more than nine months.
Since then, engineers have been investigating thruster malfunctions and other technical issues affecting Starliner. The upcoming cargo mission is scheduled for no earlier than April, depending on further tests and certification.
Boeing stated it remains committed to the Starliner program with safety as its highest priority.
NASA has also reduced its planned number of Starliner flights from six to four. If the cargo mission is successful, three additional crewed missions are expected before the International Space Station is decommissioned in 2030.
“NASA and Boeing are continuing to rigorously test the Starliner propulsion system in preparation for two potential flights next year,” said Steve Stich, manager of NASA’s commercial crew program.
NASA awarded contracts in 2014 to both Boeing and SpaceX to transport astronauts following the retirement of the space shuttle program. Boeing’s contract was valued at $4.2 billion while SpaceX received $2.6 billion. SpaceX launched its first astronaut mission for NASA in 2020 and completed its twelfth such launch this summer.
