NASA and Boeing are preparing the Starliner for its next flight after technical issues left the spacecraft unable to ferry its astronauts back to Earth for months. On Thursday, NASA announced that it’s working with Boeing to “resolve Starliner’s in-flight anomalies” before a crewed flight that could take place later this year or in early 2026.
The Boeing Starliner took off successfully for the first time last June, bringing Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore to the International Space Station for what was supposed to be about a week. However, issues with the Starliner’s thruster, valve, and helium systems led NASA to bring the Starliner back to Earth in September, while Williams and Wilmore returned aboard SpaceX’s Crew-9 earlier this month.
NASA and Boeing have been analyzing postflight data since Starliner’s return, saying they will continue investigating the “major in-flight propulsion system anomalies.” They plan to test the “firing of key Starliner thrusters” and will also continue testing a new helium system seal.
“Once we get through these planned test campaigns, we will have a better idea of when we can go fly the next Boeing flight,” Steve Stich, the manager at NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, said in a statement.