As of today, a year has passed since the launch of Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner on its initial crewed test flight, yet NASA remains undecided about the spacecraft's next mission. Mixed signals regarding the vehicle's future have left many in the aerospace community uncertain. In a statement released on June 6, NASA confirmed that it is still exploring options for the next flight of the Starliner, which is anticipated no earlier than early 2026. The agency is contemplating whether this upcoming mission will be crewed or uncrewed.
NASA's announcement highlighted that the agency is evaluating the earliest potential for a Starliner flight to the International Space Station (ISS) in early 2026, contingent upon system certification and the resolution of existing technical issues. The statement also noted that NASA is still determining whether the next flight will be conducted with a crew or in a cargo configuration.
This announcement coincided with the anniversary of Starliner's docking with the ISS during the Crew Flight Test (CFT) mission. Despite several thruster failures during the mission, which momentarily jeopardized the docking process, Starliner successfully connected with the ISS. However, these thruster issues, coupled with helium leaks detected during flight, prompted NASA to opt for an uncrewed return of Starliner in August 2024, leading to astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore remaining aboard the ISS until their eventual return via a SpaceX Crew Dragon in March.
In the latest updates, NASA reiterated its previous statements regarding the timeline for Starliner's next mission. Steve Stich, the Nasa commercial crew program manager, indicated that the agency is aiming to conduct a test flight, either with or without astronauts, to evaluate modifications made to Starliner. This would be followed by the inaugural crew rotation mission, known as Starliner-1. However, NASA has cautioned that this test flight is unlikely to launch before late this year, primarily due to the scheduling of other visiting vehicles to the ISS.
Additionally, NASA's review of the thruster problems is expected to remain open for much of the year, as tests are planned throughout the summer. Stich noted, “It is likely to be in the timeframe of late this calendar year or early next year for the next Starliner flight.”
In April, the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel stated that a decision on whether the next Starliner mission would be crewed had yet to be made. The panel indicated that the outcome of ongoing thruster testing would significantly influence this decision. Despite the uncertainty, NASA astronauts have been training for a potential post-certification mission aboard Starliner, though a complete crew for Starliner-1 has not been assigned for focused training as of now.
Over the past five years, NASA has relied heavily on SpaceX for crew transportation to the ISS. Nevertheless, the agency has consistently emphasized the importance of having two operational commercial crew vehicles to ensure redundancy in case one encounters issues. This need for redundancy was underscored by a recent incident in which SpaceX CEO Elon Musk briefly threatened to “decommission” the Dragon spacecraft during a dispute with then-President Trump. Although Musk quickly retracted the statement, it highlighted NASA's significant dependence on SpaceX for ISS transport.
However, looming budgetary constraints may force NASA to reconsider its commitments to the Starliner program. The agency’s fiscal year 2026 budget proposal, released on May 30, indicates a 25% reduction in ISS operating and transportation budgets. The budget document explicitly states, “The budget will limit future vehicle changes and could impact NASA’s ability to maintain two crew transportation providers.”
Amidst this uncertainty, Boeing has been reticent regarding its plans for Starliner, particularly as industry rumors suggest the possibility of the company withdrawing from the program after incurring approximately $2 billion in charges against earnings. Since the conclusion of the CFT mission, Boeing executives have been notably silent about Starliner, declining to participate in NASA briefings regarding the spacecraft's return.
In an interview with Aviation Week published on May 29, Boeing's newly appointed CEO Kelly Ortberg indicated that the challenges faced with Starliner have overshadowed the company's broader space portfolio. He cautioned that the future of Starliner, along with other Boeing space initiatives, will largely depend on the outcomes of ongoing budget discussions in Congress. “I think the manned space, commercial and NASA business is going to be dependent on where the budget goes and what the country wants to invest in those programs,” Ortberg stated.
