NASA is committing $359 million to bail out Boeing’s troubled Starliner program and expanding its flight manifest, targeting an uncrewed flight this winter and a crewed mission in 2028. The emergency investment comes as Boeing addresses valve failures and other issues that left astronauts stranded in space last year.
The space agency announced a major reset for Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner program on September 28, locking in plans to purchase additional crew missions and certify a new rocket for low Earth orbit transportation. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman outlined the agency’s updated strategy during a press briefing alongside Boeing executives and astronauts.
The decision arrives as NASA faces a narrowing window for human access to space. With SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rockets and Dragon capsules expected to sunset in the future as the company shifts focus toward its larger Starship vehicle, agency officials acknowledged the necessity of maintaining a second operational American crew ferry.
Boeing secured a Commercial Crew Transportation Capability agreement from NASA back in 2014 to transport astronauts to and from the International Space Station utilizing its Starliner vehicle. Dana Weigel, manager of NASA’s Low Earth Orbit Program, explained that the Commercial Crew Program has consistently sought two separate providers, pointing out that SpaceX has previously mentioned the Falcon and Dragon will not remain operational indefinitely. SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule is currently the only operational U.S. astronaut ferry ship.
NASA Allocates $359 Million for Starliner Upgrades
The newly announced commitment includes $359 million from NASA to cover extra Starliner upgrades and new rocket certifications, according to Dana Weigel, manager of NASA’s Low Earth Orbit Program. Those funds will directly address the reaction control system thrusters that plagued the spacecraft during its first crewed journey.
Before any humans step back inside the capsule, Starliner must pass a critical uncrewed trial targeted for December 2026 or January 2027. Dubbed Starliner-1, the unpiloted capsule will deliver cargo to the International Space Station while gathering telemetry to validate thermal modifications and propulsion updates.
Helium Leaks Forced Crew to Return via SpaceX
The sweeping overhaul follows a disastrous 2024 flight that NASA formally classified as a Type A mishap
, its most severe accident ranking. Test pilots Barry Butch
Wilmore and Sunita Suni
Williams lifted off on June 5, 2024, aiming for a ten-day checkout journey, but propulsion system difficulties—specifically helium leaks alongside the malfunction of five service module thrusters during the station rendezvous—forced NASA to send the vehicle back uncrewed. The crew members ultimately came back to Earth on a SpaceX Crew Dragon on March 18, 2025, following a stay in orbit lasting 286 days.
An extensive Program Investigation Team issued 61 recommendations after tracing the propulsion failures to specific technical flaws.
“This is created by residual hydrazine propellant combined with atmospheric exposure — specifically, the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere — and so Boeing has put in place procedures to flush out the hydrazine, and also to flow a continuous purge to isolate those thrusters from the environment.”
Dana Weigel, manager of NASA’s Low Earth Orbit Program
In addition to purging procedures, Boeing has implemented thermal modifications to the service module and agreed to redesign thruster valves to prevent poppet seal extrusion, a condition where Teflon valve seals deform and restrict propellant flow. Engineers will also install new crew module thrusters, updated batteries, and minor parachute adjustments.
Starliner-2 and the 2028 Return to Crewed Flight
Following the successful completion of the uncrewed Starliner-1 mission, NASA and Boeing will finalize the service module thruster valve redesigns before putting astronauts back on board. The crewed Starliner-2 flight is targeted to lift off in mid-2028.
Veteran astronaut Warren Woody
Hoburg will command the Starliner-2 mission. Hoburg expressed confidence in Starliner and the Boeing-NASA teams working on the vehicle in the leadup to the mission.
“I’ve flown a lot of types of aircraft, and let me tell you, Starliner is a pilot’s spacecraft.”
Warren “Woody” Hoburg, NASA astronaut and Starliner-2 commander
Hoburg added that the capsule gives the crew real capabilities to respond to off-nominal events.
His crewmates for the 2028 flight will be named at a later date.
Boeing Seeks Vulcan Rocket Certification for Crew Flights
Beyond the spacecraft itself, NASA and Boeing intend to work with United Launch Alliance to certify the Vulcan rocket for crew transportation. The new booster will eventually replace the Atlas V rocket.
While NASA currently plans to exercise options for a fifth and sixth Starliner flight to the space station, Boeing executives are also looking toward the commercial horizon. We’re incredibly excited about the partnership with NASA,
said John Mulholland, vice president and program manager of Commercial Crew at Boeing, pointing to future discussions with private space station operators who will require reliable taxi services once the International Space Station is decommissioned.