Overview
- NASA and Boeing modified the Commercial Crew contract, reducing post‑certification Starliner missions from six to four, with two additional flights kept as options.
- The next mission, Starliner-1, will fly uncrewed to deliver cargo to the International Space Station no earlier than April 2026 and to verify hardware changes made after last year’s test flight.
- Officials say propulsion-system testing is ongoing, with 2026 focused on certifying the vehicle before deciding when to resume flying astronauts.
- The decision follows thruster malfunctions and helium leaks during the 2024 Crew Flight Test that led NASA to return the capsule empty and keep its two astronauts on the station for nine months before a Crew Dragon ride home.
- NASA’s contractual obligation to Boeing has been reduced by several hundred million dollars, and Boeing—despite reporting more than $2 billion in program losses—says it remains committed to completing Starliner certification.