Overview
- The uncrewed Starliner-1 will deliver cargo to the International Space Station no earlier than April 2026 under a contract modification announced Nov. 24.
- NASA reduced Boeing’s definitive post-certification missions from six to four, with two additional flights remaining as options.
- The decision follows propulsion and helium-leak problems during the 2024 Crew Flight Test that led NASA to return the capsule empty and bring Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams home on a Crew Dragon in March 2025.
- NASA and Boeing are conducting rigorous propulsion-system testing, and any crewed Starliner flights will depend on certification and alignment with ISS operations planned through 2030.
- NASA reports Boeing’s current contract value at about $3.732 billion, with a total potential value up to $4.456 billion after the modification.