NASA: Boeing Dedicated to Launching Starliner Again

Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner may be ready to return to space soon, with aspirations for astronaut readiness following the Crew-11 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) this summer, according to Steve Stich.

“We are collaborating closely with Boeing on the certification of Starliner, working to get that vehicle back to flight,” he shared with the media on March 18.

These remarks were made during a post-splashdown press conference following NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission, which included the crew from Boeing’s first and only manned test flight at the time of this report, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams.

He noted that Boeing has been actively monitoring their astronauts’ return, even organizing a watch party for the splashdown.

“Butch and Suni’s return on Dragon highlights the critical necessity of having two distinct crew transportation systems, showcasing the importance of Starliner and the redundancy we’re creating for our low Earth orbit economy,” Stich remarked.

Wilmore and Williams successfully flew Starliner to the ISS on June 5 aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. Initially scheduled for an eight-day mission, the capsule returned empty after ground authorities deemed it unsafe.

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During their flight, issues arose, including the identification of an ongoing leak in the helium-based propulsion system, which caused several thrusters to malfunction prior to the scheduled docking with the ISS on June 6. This leak, eventually traced back to faulty rubber seals on the tanks, had previously been discovered during ground tests and was responsible for a four-week launch delay.

Stich mentioned that Boeing has been diligently enhancing these systems at a testing facility in the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, under the leadership of their new CEO, Kelly Ortberg. Notable improvements highlighted during the press conference included the resolution of the leaky fuel tanks, upgrades to the capsule’s thrusters, and additional thermal materials for the service module. New Boeing spacesuits are also in development.

“We’re focused on their resilience,” Stich remarked regarding Boeing’s ongoing advancements with Starliner. “That entire Boeing team, just like our entire Commercial Crew Program team, is resilient and progressing towards the next steps for Starliner. It’s been a busy start to 2025, and it’s hard to believe that we are already near the end of March, yet we’re looking forward to an exciting summer.”

The upcoming flight of Starliner will evaluate all modifications made over the past year. While Stich noted that it remains uncertain if the flight will be crewed or uncrewed, NASA insists that the capsule should be capable of transporting a human crew regardless. The following flight is expected to be crewed, allowing Starliner to join SpaceX Crew Dragon in NASA’s crew rotation.

Stich did not dismiss the possibility of Starliner being designated for the ISS-bound Crew-12 mission after SpaceX’s Crew-11, expected to launch in July or August. He indicated that further data evaluation and additional testing are necessary before any flight decisions can be finalized.

“We likely have a bit more time as we approach summer to better understand the testing we need to complete before making a decision,” he concluded, adding that alternative options, including an uncrewed flight, are also being examined.

As of March 19, no specific launch date for Starliner’s return to space has been established.

The Epoch Times reached out to Boeing for comments.

Jacob Burg contributed to this report.