The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →NASA’s current plan is to fly astronauts on Boeing’s Starliner-2 mission to the International Space Station by 2028, but that is a target—not a confirmed launch date. Before then, NASA plans an uncrewed Starliner-1 engineering flight, potentially in December 2026 or January 2027, to evaluate propulsion-system changes. Starliner is not yet certified for crew rotation, and the schedule depends on test results and completion of certification work.
What is the next Starliner mission?
NASA and Boeing plan to fly Starliner-1 without a crew as an engineering evaluation mission. NASA’s September 28, 2026 update gives a possible launch window of December 2026 or January 2027. The flight is intended to assess changes to the spacecraft and collect propulsion-performance data before NASA considers a crewed mission. NASA’s current flight-plan update supersedes its May 2026 status, which said Starliner-1 opportunities remained under review.
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NASA says Starliner-1 will evaluate the improved thermal environment around the service-module thrusters, help qualify the system, and reveal any remaining risk. NASA and Boeing also plan additional modifications and certification work after the evaluation flight. That makes Starliner-1 a validation step, not the return of astronauts to the spacecraft.
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When will Boeing Starliner fly astronauts again?
NASA’s September 2026 plan is to return astronauts on Starliner-2 by 2028. The wording matters: NASA has stated a planning target, not a booked launch date or guarantee. The date can move if Starliner-1 results, further corrective actions, operational readiness, or required crewed-flight certification take longer than expected. NASA’s announcement describes the sequence and the conditions still to be completed.
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NASA’s Office of Inspector General reported in an audit dated June 30, 2026, that Starliner remained uncertified and estimated human-rating certification no earlier than 2027. That estimate is not a conflicting launch date: it is an oversight estimate for certification, while NASA’s later September announcement sets out a mission plan for returning astronauts by 2028. Neither statement makes the schedule certain. The OIG audit also notes the unexpected issues found during Starliner’s flight tests.
Why did Starliner return without its crew?
Starliner’s Crew Flight Test launched on June 5, 2024. The mission was initially expected to last 8–14 days, but the spacecraft remained in orbit for 93 days after propulsion problems. NASA and Boeing returned Starliner without astronauts aboard; Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams later returned to Earth aboard SpaceX Crew-9 in March 2025. NASA’s investigation report gives the mission timeline.
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NASA identified thruster performance anomalies and helium-system leaks. After technical reviews of the propulsion system, helium system, and return scenarios, NASA judged that the uncertainty left too much risk to accept for a crewed return under its human-spaceflight safety standards. NASA’s Crew Flight Test FAQ explains the contemporaneous rationale. The decision was about the uncertainty surrounding the spacecraft’s ability to perform a safe return, not a claim that the crew had been injured.
What did NASA’s investigation find?
NASA’s investigation addressed organizational and engineering issues, not only individual component failures. Its February 19, 2026 release described an interplay of hardware failures, qualification gaps, leadership missteps, and cultural breakdowns that created conditions inconsistent with NASA’s human-spaceflight safety standards. NASA classified the Crew Flight Test as a Type A mishap because loss of maneuverability near the station had the potential for a significant mishap, even though the crew was not injured and Starliner regained control before docking. The investigation identified 61 recommendations for NASA. NASA’s findings summary provides the agency’s account.
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What is changing before a crewed flight?
NASA’s September 2026 update says testing and analysis linked the service-module thruster problems to a combination of factors, including the thermal environment and design features. Boeing made thermal modifications for NASA to evaluate on Starliner-1. NASA and Boeing also decided on a further thruster-valve design modification addressing poppet-seal extrusion. Other stated improvements include new crew-module thrusters, batteries, and minor parachute-system modifications. NASA’s update describes these as work to be evaluated or carried out; the changes do not, by themselves, mean the spacecraft is certified.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why is NASA continuing the Starliner program?
NASA created its Commercial Crew program to maintain U.S.-based transportation to the International Space Station. The OIG’s June 2026 audit says NASA has faced six years of delays and lacks enough contracted flights to fully crew the ISS through 2030, requiring additional flights from Boeing or SpaceX. Maintaining more than one provider is part of the program context; it does not reduce the safety standards Starliner must meet before carrying astronauts. The OIG audit discusses the program’s schedule and flight needs.
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