2 hrs ago
NASA Plans Starliner Return to Restore Commercial Crew Backup
Boeing built Starliner to carry astronauts to and from space.
Its first crewed flight began in June 2024 with astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams.
The spacecraft had several technical problems while traveling to the International Space Station.
NASA decided it was too risky to bring the astronauts home in Starliner.
Starliner returned to Earth without them, and the astronauts later came home on SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft.
NASA now wants to test Starliner again without astronauts first.
That test could happen in December or January 2027.
If the test goes well, astronauts could fly on Starliner again in 2028.
NASA says having two spacecraft would provide a backup and support future missions to the Moon and Mars.
NASA plans to launch an uncrewed Starliner-1 mission to the International Space Station in December or January 2027.
The test flight is intended to validate spacecraft improvements and collect data needed for certification.
NASA currently plans a crewed Starliner-2 mission for 2028 and may conduct up to five crewed Starliner missions.
Starliner’s first crewed flight in 2024 encountered thruster failures, helium leaks and propulsion-system problems.
NASA wants Starliner as a second commercial crew vehicle alongside SpaceX’s Dragon, reducing reliance on one spacecraft.
- Who
- NASA, Boeing, astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, and SpaceX are central to the Starliner program.
- What
- NASA plans to return Boeing’s Starliner to flight, beginning with an uncrewed test mission and potentially followed by crewed missions.
- Where
- The planned test mission is intended to travel to the International Space Station; Starliner returned to Earth in September 2024.
- When
- Starliner-1 could launch in December or January 2027, while Starliner-2 is currently planned for 2028. Starliner’s first crewed flight launched on June 5, 2024, and returned empty in September 2024.
- Why
- NASA wants to validate technical improvements, complete certification work and maintain a second commercial crew transportation option alongside SpaceX’s Dragon.
Key facts
- Manufacturer
- Boeing
- Next planned mission
- Uncrewed Starliner-1 to the International Space Station
- Potential launch timing
- December or January 2027
- Planned crewed follow-up
- Starliner-2 in 2028
- First crewed flight
- Launched June 5, 2024, carrying Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams
- Problems reported
- Thruster failures, helium leaks and propulsion-system issues
- Investigation findings
- NASA’s investigation identified 61 recommendations, including issues involving hardware failures, qualification gaps, leadership and organizational culture
Quotes
Jared Isaacman
NASA Administrator
“We have worked closely with Boeing to address the issues identified on previous Starliner flights, and we intend to see this vehicle return to flight in support of the International Space Station and future commercial destinations.”
livemint.com
“Starliner’s next flight [after uncrewed mission] is a critical step on the path to achieving full system certification and ensuring a sustained human presence in low Earth orbit”
livemint.com
NASA Program Investigation Team report
Findings from NASA’s investigation into the Starliner program
“Investigators identified an interplay of combined hardware failures, qualification gaps, leadership missteps, and cultural breakdowns that created risk conditions inconsistent with NASA’s human spaceflight safety standards...”
livemint.com
Sources
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