Boeing Corporation, together with NASA, has decided to postpone the crewed flight on the next Starliner mission. Instead of a crewed mission, an uncrewed test flight with cargo will be conducted. This is necessary to confirm the reliability of all systems and eliminate identified technical risks. Factors Influencing the Decision This decision was made eight months after the return of the first Starliner crew (delivered aboard a SpaceX capsule). NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams successfully docked the capsule with the International Space Station in 2024, but numerous technical failures forced the return of the spacecraft without the crew. The crew spent over nine months on the station, which became an unplanned trial for both the astronauts and the space agency’s engineers. The main concern was related to Starliner’s propulsion system. Specialists found errors in the software and electronic control units that could potentially cause unpredictable behavior of the craft in orbit. To eliminate any threat to the astronauts’ lives, NASA mandated that the craft first be tested in cargo mode, confirming the correct operation of all components, only then allowing a crewed flight. Prospects The next Starliner flight, carrying only cargo to the ISS, is tentatively scheduled for April 2026, immediately following the completion of the necessary certification. If this mission is successful, the remaining three planned Starliner flights will be used to carry crews until the station is decommissioned, which is planned for 2030. “NASA and Boeing teams are currently focused on a detailed review of Starliner’s main propulsion system in preparation for two potential crewed missions next year,” noted Steve Stich, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program manager. Program Overview Contracts for transporting astronauts to orbit between the government agency and private companies Boeing and SpaceX were signed in 2014, three years after the end of the Space Shuttle program. Boeing received a contract worth $4.2 billion, and SpaceX received $2.6 billion. SpaceX’s first crewed mission took place in 2020, and by the summer of 2025, the company had already conducted its 12th crewed launch. Starliner is a next-generation capsule equipped with automatic docking functionality and redundant systems for emergency return. Current incidents have shown that such complex systems require meticulous testing and phased commissioning. Boeing insists that human safety is the absolute priority and is preparing for further tests. The postponement of the Starliner flight underscores that for NASA and Boeing, reliability and safety outweigh the deadlines for crewed missions. The program’s focus is now shifted to confirming the functionality of all components and subsequently ensuring the regular use of the spacecraft.
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