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Boeing targets Starliner’s return by late 2026
Boeing says Starliner could fly an uncrewed cargo mission to the ISS by late 2026 after thruster, helium-leak and software fixes.
Image: iXBT
Boeing says its CST-100 Starliner could return to flight by the end of 2026, with NASA considering an uncrewed cargo mission to the International Space Station as the spacecraft’s next certification step. The company said the main technical work is nearing completion, but the launch date still needs to be agreed with NASA.
Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg said the refurbishment program is on schedule. According to Ars Technica, the most likely next flight would carry cargo rather than astronauts, allowing NASA and Boeing to validate the spacecraft after its troubled crewed test.
What went wrong on the 2024 crewed test
During the June 2024 Crew Flight Test, Starliner successfully docked with the ISS while carrying astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams. The spacecraft nevertheless suffered failures in several attitude-control thrusters during its approach, along with helium leaks.
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NASA judged a crewed return on Starliner too risky. The capsule ultimately landed without passengers, while Wilmore and Williams returned to Earth later aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon.
NASA’s subsequent investigation classified the incident as Type-A, its most serious category of mishap. Investigators found design weaknesses dating to the program’s early development, including components operating outside their certified limits and inadequate fault tolerance during atmospheric reentry.
Starliner’s planned fixes and launch constraints
Boeing is upgrading the spacecraft’s thrusters, addressing the causes of the helium leaks and updating its flight software. The company is also conducting extensive ground testing with NASA before certification can proceed.
Technical readiness will not be the only scheduling constraint. Starliner can use only the two docking ports on the ISS Harmony module, which are regularly occupied by Crew Dragon and other spacecraft. Even if testing and certification finish on time, the station’s traffic schedule must provide an opening.
If those conditions align, an uncrewed Starliner cargo flight could launch before the end of 2026. Boeing and NASA have not yet provided a specific launch date; the mission would be the first step toward resuming regular flights under the Commercial Crew program.
Frontier Editor
Dan is our resident futurist, covering electric mobility, space exploration, and the smart home. He's interested in atoms just as much as bits. Whether it's a new battery chemistry, a reusable rocket, or a protocol that finally makes IoT devices talk to each other, Dan breaks down the engineering that pushes humanity forward.
via iXBT
