NASA Revises Starliner Plan After 2024 Anomalies — Unmanned Cargo Flight Set for April 2026

Quick summary: NASA and Boeing have revised the Starliner schedule after propulsion and thruster anomalies were found during the 2024 crewed test flight. The contract was adjusted to prioritize system certification in 2026 and reduce confirmed missions from six to four, with two optional. The next mission, Starliner-1, will be an unmanned, cargo-only demonstration no earlier than April 2026 while upgrades and in-flight validations are completed. Starliner has not yet earned full operational certification, but successful unmanned tests could pave the way for future crew rotations.

06:50 PM, 12/02/2025Technology

NASA Revises Starliner Plan After 2024 Anomalies — Unmanned Cargo Flight Set for April 2026

NASA and Boeing Adjust Starliner Schedule

NASA and Boeing have agreed to modify the long-standing contract for Boeing's CST-100 Starliner after propulsion and thruster anomalies appeared during the spacecraft's 2024 crewed test flight. The contract, first awarded in 2014, has been revised so both organizations can "focus on safely certifying the system in 2026" and resume crew rotations only when the vehicle meets certification requirements.

What changed?

The modification reduces the number of confirmed missions from six to four, with two additional flights retained as options. The next planned mission — now designated Starliner-1 under the updated plan — will be an unmanned, cargo-only demonstration scheduled no earlier than April 2026. That flight will follow necessary system upgrades and extensive in-flight validations so Boeing and NASA can confirm system performance, complete testing, and pursue full operational certification.

Background: the 2024 crewed test flight

The 2024 launch was Starliner’s first crewed mission and the program’s third flight overall. The capsule transported NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore to the International Space Station (ISS), but docking operations revealed propulsion and thruster issues and subsequent system concerns, including helium leaks. Ultimately, the Starliner returned to Earth without its crew; Williams and Wilmore returned aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon. No one was injured, though some crew members had their station stays extended beyond the original schedule. The ISS can accommodate up to seven people at once, which helped mitigate immediate operational impacts.

Program history and implications

Starliner’s test history includes a 2019 flight that failed to reach the ISS because of a timing-related software error, followed by a successful 2022 test that reached the station. The technical problems revealed in 2024 mean Starliner has not yet earned full operational certification. NASA called the incident among the agency’s more serious human-safety concerns since the Columbia shuttle accident in 2003, though fortunately there were no injuries.

Why the change matters

By returning to unmanned demonstrations and extending testing, NASA and Boeing aim to restore confidence in Starliner’s systems before resuming crewed rotations. Meanwhile, competitors such as SpaceX continue to win many contracts thanks to an established record of certified, repeatable launches. If Boeing successfully completes the planned upgrades, validations and certification, Starliner could return to flying crew and cargo missions and compete for future opportunities.

Bottom line: Starliner will undergo further upgrades and unmanned testing before NASA approves crewed rotations — Starliner-1, an unmanned cargo demonstration, is targeted for April 2026 or later.