"NASA and Boeing are now targeting no earlier than April 2026 to fly the uncrewed Starliner-1 mission, the space agency said. Launching by next April will require completion of rigorous test, certification, and mission readiness activities, NASA added in a statement. "NASA and Boeing are continuing to rigorously test the Starliner propulsion system in preparation for two potential flights next year," said Steve Stich, manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, in a statement."
"Now the plan is to fly Starliner-1 carrying cargo, and then up to three additional missions before the space station is retired. "This modification allows NASA and Boeing to focus on safely certifying the system in 2026, execute Starliner's first crew rotation when ready, and align our ongoing flight planning for future Starliner missions based on station's operational needs through 2030," Stich said."
NASA confirmed that Boeing's Starliner-1 will fly uncrewed and carry only cargo to the International Space Station, with a target no earlier than April 2026. Launch by that date requires completion of rigorous testing, certification, and mission readiness activities. NASA and Boeing will continue testing the Starliner propulsion system in preparation for potential 2026 flights. The Commercial Crew contract has been modified so Starliner-1 will carry cargo first, followed by up to three additional missions before station retirement. SpaceX's Crew Dragon has provided reliable crew transport while Starliner experienced a truncated uncrewed test flight in December 2019 and nearly was lost after launch.
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