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3mo ago

NASA and Boeing Outline Remediation Plan for Starliner Certification

A series of summer propulsion trials with updated helium-sealing methods aims to address critical hardware flaws ahead of a second crewed launch.

Boeing and NASA teams work around NASA's Boeing Crew Flight Test Starliner spacecraft after it landed Sept. 6, 2024 without its crew at White Sands, New Mexico.
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Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams and two other astronauts descend in the Crew Dragon spacecraft to their splashdown, following their return to earth from the International Space Station off the coast of Florida on March 18, 2025 in a still image from video.
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Overview

  • The June 2024 crewed test flight encountered helium leaks and propulsion malfunctions, prompting NASA to deem Starliner unsafe for crewed return.
  • Boeing’s spacecraft undocked empty on September 6, 2024, and Wilmore and Williams remained aboard the ISS until March 19, 2025, when they returned via SpaceX’s Crew-9 Dragon.
  • NASA scheduled summer ground trials at the White Sands Test Facility focusing on thruster repairs, helium system sealing, battery redesign and landing airbag reinforcement.
  • Ken Bowersox said Boeing has committed to integrating Starliner into NASA’s crew transport fleet pending successful completion of the planned remediation tests.
  • Starliner’s next crewed launch remains unscheduled as NASA considers an independent watchdog’s recommendations and Boeing finalizes required vehicle modifications.