Recommended Free Tools
Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Boeing’s next crewed Starliner flight has no firm public launch date. NASA’s next planned Starliner mission is an uncrewed cargo and validation flight, and NASA’s launch schedule lists it as “Under Review.” NASA’s inspector general says Starliner certification will likely slip to 2027—a forecast, not a confirmed crewed launch date.
Starliner has not been formally canceled. But it remains uncertified for routine astronaut transport, and NASA must accept corrective actions and complete reviews before approving another crewed mission.
What was delayed—and what already flew
The headline can be confusing because Starliner’s first crewed flight was delayed before launch in 2024, but it was not canceled. It launched on June 5 with NASA astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams, docked with the International Space Station on June 6, and returned to Earth without them in September. The Crew Flight Test was intended to demonstrate an end-to-end crewed trip; a safe uncrewed landing did not complete that objective.
During the flight, NASA and Boeing investigated helium leaks and thruster problems in Starliner’s propulsion system. NASA decided that uncertainty about the system’s ability to perform safely through undocking, deorbit and reentry made a crewed return too risky. The capsule landed safely in New Mexico. Wilmore and Williams returned to Earth in March 2025 aboard SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission, after an extended stay on the station. NASA’s account of the decision is in its uncrewed-return announcement; its Starliner FAQ summarizes the flight.
#1 Best Overall
- HOBBY MODEL KIT – Unassembled model packed in an envelope with easy to follow instructions. Ideal for ages 14 and up.
- NO GLUE OR SOLDER NEEDED – Parts can be easily clipped from the metal sheets. Tweezers are the recommended tool for bending and twisting the connection tabs.
- BOEING CST-100 STARLINER – 1 Sheet Model with an easy difficulty level. Assembled Size: 1.97 (Diameter) x 2.17 H inches.
- FROM STEEL SHEETS TO 3D – Pop out the pieces and connect using tabs and holes. Includes illustrated instructions.
- HIGHLY DETAILED ETCHED MODEL – Display your 3D model once completed - collect and build them all.
So the current delay concerns Starliner’s next steps—not whether the 2024 mission ever launched. There are two distinct milestones: the uncrewed Starliner-1 mission, and a future crewed flight that would require NASA certification.
Starliner-1 is the next planned flight, but its date is under review
NASA and Boeing changed Starliner-1 from a crewed mission into an uncrewed cargo and systems-validation flight. It is meant to test upgrades and help establish whether the spacecraft can meet the requirements for human-rating certification. NASA’s launch schedule currently lists Starliner-1 as “Under Review,” so the earlier target of no earlier than April 2026 is no longer a current launch commitment.
The contract change also reduced the number of definitive missions from six to four, with two additional missions remaining as options. NASA said that after certification and a successful Starliner-1 mission, the spacecraft could fly up to three crew rotations to the ISS. Those options are not guarantees that the missions will be funded, scheduled or flown. See NASA’s contract announcement and the NASA launch schedule.
Rank #2
- UNASSEMBLED HOBBY MODEL KIT – packed in an envelope with easy to follow instructions. Ideal for ages 14 and up.
- NO GLUE OR SOLDER NEEDED – Parts can be easily clipped from the metal sheets. Bundle includes tweezers, which are recommended for bending and twisting the connection tabs.
- BOEING CST-100 STARLINER – 1 Sheet Model with an easy difficulty level. Assembled Size: 1.97 (Diameter) x 2.17 H inches
- FROM STEEL SHEETS TO 3D – Pop out the pieces and connect using tabs and holes. Includes illustrated instructions.
- HIGHLY DETAILED ETCHED MODEL – Display your 3D model once completed - collect and build them all.
Why NASA chose not to bring the astronauts home on Starliner
The issue was not simply that a leak existed. Helium pressurizes Starliner’s propulsion system, and the mission also experienced thruster failures during its approach to the station, including a temporary loss of maneuvering control. NASA regained control before docking, but the anomalies and uncertainty about what might happen next made it difficult to establish that the propulsion system could reliably carry out the return sequence.
NASA therefore used the uncrewed return to gather vehicle data while avoiding the risk of putting the astronauts aboard for reentry. Starliner’s safe landing showed that it could return under those circumstances; it did not demonstrate that NASA’s safety and certification concerns had been resolved.
What NASA’s investigation found
NASA released an independent investigation into the Crew Flight Test on February 19, 2026, and classified the event as a Type A mishap. That designation reflects the event’s potential severity, including the loss of maneuverability during approach. It does not mean that anyone was injured, that the spacecraft was destroyed or that the crew was lost.
Rank #3
- This Space Mission toy set includes a Boeing 747 and a space shuttle, offering authentic representations of iconic spacecraft from both past and present.
- Each toy is individually packaged, making it perfect for gifting or collecting.
- Designed to inspire imaginative play, allowing kids to recreate space missions and aircraft journeys.
- Ideal for children ages 3 and up, encouraging both learning and fun through hands-on play.
- Great for space and aviation enthusiasts, helping to foster an interest in science and exploration.
The investigation described interacting contributors rather than one isolated component: hardware problems, gaps in qualification testing, leadership and management missteps, and organizational and cultural breakdowns. That broader finding helps explain why a fix to one thruster or leak alone would not establish that Starliner is ready for routine crewed service. NASA’s investigation release links to its findings.
What still has to be resolved
- Propulsion and thrusters: NASA’s inspector general identifies propulsion-system failures and unresolved technical issues as major certification obstacles. NASA needs evidence that the system will perform reliably through the full mission, not only during a particular test.
- Helium leaks: The leaks observed during the crewed test contributed to concern about propulsion-system reliability and require root-cause work and corrective action.
- Thermal behavior: Concerns about propulsion-system thermal conditions, including around thruster hardware, are part of the wider technical picture and need to be addressed in testing.
- Parachutes: NASA OIG lists parachute anomalies among the certification challenges. This does not mean the parachutes failed during the 2024 landing; Starliner landed safely. The issue is resolving anomalies and meeting qualification requirements.
- Testing and verification: The inspector general points to reliance on heritage systems, schedule pressure and limited flight-simulation data. NASA and Boeing need adequate, mission-representative evidence that fixes work together under expected conditions.
NASA’s review must also account for the investigation’s recommendations, human-rating requirements and mission-readiness assessments. The uncrewed Starliner-1 flight is intended to be a key validation step, but a launch by itself would not automatically certify the spacecraft.
NASA OIG’s Commercial Crew audit and June 2026 report discuss the unresolved issues and assess that certification will likely slip to 2027. That is an inspector-general forecast, not a NASA-announced launch date or a promise of certification in that year.
Rank #4
- Hasegawa Model Kit
- Accurate Scale Model
- Paints and Glue Required
- Easy to Build
- Detailed Instructions Included
Does “delayed indefinitely” mean Starliner is canceled?
No public NASA announcement says the Starliner program has been canceled. “Indefinitely delayed” is best read here as no replacement date has been committed. NASA continues to describe a path involving corrective actions, an uncrewed validation mission and eventual certification, but each step depends on technical results and NASA approval.
That distinction matters: Starliner is not certified for routine crew transportation, no next crewed flight is publicly scheduled, and the uncrewed mission is under review. At the same time, a schedule without a date is not proof that the program is permanently over.
Why keep working on Starliner?
NASA’s Commercial Crew Program was built around having two independent U.S. systems for transporting astronauts to and from the ISS. SpaceX’s Crew Dragon is the operational, certified alternative; NASA OIG reported that it had flown 12 crewed missions to and from the station by June 2026. A second provider could offer redundancy and reduce reliance on one system, but only if it meets NASA’s safety and certification requirements. NASA outlines the program’s purpose in its Commercial Crew overview.
Best Value
- HOBBY MODEL KIT – Unassembled model packed in an envelope with easy to follow instructions. Ideal for ages 14 and up.
- NO GLUE OR SOLDER NEEDED – Parts can be easily clipped from the metal sheets. Tweezers are the recommended tool for bending and twisting the connection tabs.
- SPACEX FALCON 9 - 3 Sheet Model with a Moderate difficulty level. Assembled Size: 3.00 L x 1.50 W x 7.00 H inches. 84 Pieces.
- FROM STEEL SHEETS TO 3D – Pop out the pieces and connect using tabs and holes. Includes illustrated instructions.
- HIGHLY DETAILED ETCHED MODEL – Display your 3D model once completed - collect and build them all.
The delay has costs as well as potential benefits. NASA continues to rely on Crew Dragon for U.S. crew transport, while Boeing faces additional testing, schedule pressure and the consequences of a reduced definitive mission order. A certification forecast of 2027 would also leave a narrower period for Starliner operations before the ISS’s currently planned 2030 end of operations. That end date is a plan, not an immutable certainty, and certification would not guarantee a particular number of flights.
Boeing has said it has made progress on corrective actions and cultural changes, but that is the company’s assessment, not independent confirmation that Starliner is ready. NASA approval depends on demonstrated results, not statements of intent.
Starliner timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Dec. 20, 2019 | First uncrewed orbital flight test launched; Starliner did not reach the ISS as planned. |
| May 19, 2022 | Second uncrewed flight test launched and demonstrated an ISS docking. |
| June 5–6, 2024 | The crewed test launched with Wilmore and Williams, then docked at the ISS. |
| Aug. 24, 2024 | NASA decided Starliner would return without the astronauts. |
| September 2024 | Starliner landed safely in New Mexico without its crew. |
| March 2025 | Wilmore and Williams returned aboard SpaceX Crew-9. |
| Nov. 24, 2025 | NASA and Boeing modified the contract and made Starliner-1 an uncrewed mission. |
| Feb. 19, 2026 | NASA released its independent Crew Flight Test investigation. |
| June 2026 | NASA OIG assessed that certification would likely slip to 2027. |
| Aug. 18, 2026 | Starliner-1 remains under review; no firm public date is listed for another crewed flight. |
Two mission-duration figures can also be easy to mix up: the Starliner Crew Flight Test lasted about 93 days from launch to the capsule’s uncrewed return. Wilmore and Williams spent about 286 days in orbit from their June 2024 launch until their March 2025 return on Crew-9.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteQuick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
