NASA and Boeing are preparing the Starliner spacecraft for its next flight after technical difficulties delayed its ability to return astronauts. On Thursday, NASA announced that it is collaborating with Boeing to address in-flight anomalies before a potential crewed launch later this year or early 2026.
The Starliner successfully completed its first crewed mission in June, transporting astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore to the International Space Station (ISS) for a week. However, the mission encountered significant issues, including failures in five of its 28 reaction control system (RCS) thrusters and helium leaks in the propulsion system. As a result, NASA decided to return the spacecraft uncrewed in September, while Williams and Wilmore extended their stay on the ISS until returning on SpaceX's Crew-9 mission in March.
Since the Starliner's return, teams from NASA and Boeing have been analyzing flight data and conducting tests to address the identified problems. Notably, four of the five malfunctioning RCS thrusters were reactivated while in orbit. Investigations indicated that overheating in the engine pods contributed to these thruster failures. Additionally, teams are testing new sealing options for the helium system to mitigate future leaks.
Steve Stich, manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, stated that ongoing tests will help determine a timeline for the next flight. The upcoming mission may include crew or focus solely on cargo, depending on certification progress.