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4w ago

NASA and Boeing Continue Work on Starliner as Propulsion Issues Persist

Following propulsion anomalies during its first crewed mission, Starliner's next flight is planned as a post-certification crew-capable mission, with testing and upgrades ongoing into late 2025.

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Boeing's Starliner spacecraft aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket rolls toward the launch pad, in preparation for the launch of Boeing's Starliner-1 Crew Flight Test (CFT), in Cape Canaveral, Florida, U.S. May 4, 2024. REUTERS/Steve Nesius/File Photo
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Overview

  • Starliner’s first crewed mission in 2024 encountered thruster malfunctions and helium leaks, requiring astronauts to return via SpaceX’s Crew Dragon.
  • NASA and Boeing have analyzed 70% of mission data but have yet to resolve the root cause of the propulsion anomalies.
  • Ground tests and upgrades to Starliner’s propulsion system are scheduled through spring and summer 2025 to address the issues.
  • NASA plans for the spacecraft’s next flight to be a crew-capable post-certification mission, though cargo-only missions remain an option.
  • Maintaining Starliner as a viable spacecraft is critical to NASA’s strategy of ensuring redundancy in ISS access alongside SpaceX’s Crew Dragon.