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NASA, Boeing Target Early 2026 for Next Starliner Flight After Propulsion Fault

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NASA announced on Thursday that it is working with Boeing to test and certify the CST-100 Starliner for its next crewed mission, which could take place as early as late 2025 or early 2026. The update comes after the spacecraft’s troubled debut crewed flight to the International Space Station (ISS), which was significantly extended due to a propulsion system malfunction.

The mission, originally planned as an eight-day trip, ended up keeping astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams in orbit for over nine months. They returned earlier this month aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule.

Testing and Analysis Underway
NASA and Boeing are now planning a series of propulsion system tests and engineering analyses scheduled to run through the spring and summer. The goal is to resolve the issues that plagued Starliner’s propulsion system and ensure the spacecraft meets safety requirements for future flights.

Steve Stich, manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, said the timeline for the next flight “is likely to be in the timeframe of late this calendar year or early next year.”

Cost and Development Hurdles
Boeing’s Starliner project has been fraught with delays and technical issues since its inception. The effort has cost Boeing over $2 billion to date, placing it under increased scrutiny, especially in contrast to competitor SpaceX, whose Dragon capsule has become the preferred vehicle for crew transport to the ISS.

The faulty propulsion system on Starliner has become a critical focal point for NASA’s certification process, as the agency continues to rely on multiple commercial providers for its low-Earth orbit missions.

What’s Next
NASA emphasized that it will not proceed with another Starliner crewed launch until the spacecraft passes all necessary tests. Both agencies remain committed to restoring confidence in the system, aiming to bring Starliner into regular rotation for ISS crew missions.

NASA Crew-8 Mission Postponed by Florida’s Severe Weather

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The Crew-8 team continues to wait for approval to head back home as unfavorable weather off Florida’s coast has delayed their departure. Initially, NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 mission was scheduled to undock on Monday night, but the timeline has now been adjusted to no earlier than 9:05 PM EDT. Mission officials remain cautious and are closely monitoring weather conditions to decide the safest time to proceed.

Crew-8 members Matthew Dominick, Mike Barratt, Jeanette Epps (all from NASA), and Alexander Grebenkin from Roscosmos have had to adapt to the changing circumstances. They adjusted their sleep schedules in anticipation of the original undocking plans, only to see their departure delayed. Despite this setback, they’ve kept busy on the International Space Station (ISS) by sticking to their exercise routines and continuing their assigned tasks. The crew members remain flexible, keeping to their adjusted sleep patterns while waiting for the next weather briefing.

Meanwhile, the delay has had ripple effects on the rest of the ISS crew. Expedition 72 Commander Suni Williams and Flight Engineers Butch Wilmore, Nick Hague, and Don Pettit have also adapted their schedules to assist with Crew-8’s departure. With Monday’s delay, they enjoyed a lighter workload and used the time to prepare for a potential Tuesday undocking. Coordination between the two teams is crucial to ensure the transition goes smoothly.

As everyone awaits updated information on the weather, both the Crew-8 team and the ISS crew are staying ready for whatever comes next. The dynamic nature of space missions often requires adaptability, and the astronauts’ ability to manage unexpected changes ensures mission success while prioritizing safety.

SpaceX Postpones Historic Private Spacewalk Mission Due to Weather

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SpaceX has delayed its ambitious Polaris Dawn mission, which aimed to achieve the first-ever spacewalk by private citizens. Originally set to launch from NASA’s space center in Florida early Wednesday, the mission was postponed due to an “unfavorable weather forecast” in the planned splashdown areas. The delay follows a previous cancellation on Tuesday caused by a helium leak affecting the rocket’s connection line.

Polaris Dawn, spearheaded by fintech billionaire Jared Isaacman, was intended to feature an all-civilian crew, including Isaacman, retired US Air Force pilot Scott Poteet, and SpaceX engineers Anna Menon and Sarah Gillis. Isaacman, who previously financed SpaceX’s Inspiration4 mission in 2021, has not disclosed the total investment for this venture.

The mission will use a SpaceX Dragon capsule launched by a Falcon 9 rocket, targeting altitudes up to 1,400 km (870 miles) — the highest ever for a crewed mission since NASA’s Apollo program. The crew is scheduled to spend six days in space, with a planned spacewalk on the third day, involving Isaacman and Gillis exiting the spacecraft in upgraded SpaceX spacesuits.

During the mission, they plan to conduct experiments, including testing communications with Starlink satellites and observing the Van Allen radiation belt. The exact timing of the rescheduled launch remains unclear.