+34
NASA and Boeing are preparing to conduct at least five additional Starliner flights to the International Space Station, with the first mission planned as uncrewed. The flights will test fixes for earlier technical problems as SpaceX shifts focus from Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon to Starship.
NASA intends to use Boeing's Starliner to reach the ISS when that happens. plans to phase out its Falcon 9 reusable rocket and the Crew Dragon capsule it uses to carry astronauts to the International Space Station .
Falcon has flown roughly 700 missions since its introduction 16 years ago, the second-most-launched rocketship in history. However, as SpaceX makes progress with its, the company has reportedly stopped taking orders for Falcon 9 launches after 2028 and will discontinue flights to the ISS after 2030. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia.
So, what spacecraft will NASA use for missions to Low Earth Orbit when Falcon and Dragon are gone? The answer will surprise you:As in, the same troubled Starliner spacecraft that failed to reach the ISS on its first attempt, barely got there on its second, andNASA Administrator Jared Isaacman made this startling announcement in a press conference on Monday: "SpaceX intends to sunset older platforms like Falcon and Dragon as they concentrate on their next-generation capability, Starship.
" And for this reason, Boeing's "Starliner has an important role to play" as it fills the gap created by SpaceX. Two years after a series of anomalies involving stuck valves, helium leaks, and thruster failures on Starliner forced NASA to send a SpaceX Crew Dragon to retrieve astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams from the ISS, NASA and Boeing insist they've made enough progress tracking down the problems and coming up with fixes to give Starliner another go.
NASA is therefore contracting with Boeing to fly Starliner at least five more times -- potentially as many as seven. The first flight, "Starliner 1," will be uncrewed and will put the spacecraft through its paces to ensure any issues are fixed. This test flight is expected to take place either in December 2026 or January 2027. After that will come an 18-month pause, followed by a crewed flight to the ISS in mid-2028, "Starliner 2.
"private space stations that NASA hopes will replace the government-owned International Space Station. As NASA Low Earth Orbit Program manager Dana Weigel said, once Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon are gone, "Starliner is what we're intending to fly into the future.
"Boeing Commercial Crew program manager John Mulholland, also present at the press conference, pronounced himself "incredibly excited" at this prospect -- as well he should be! After all, NASA has already paid Boeing $5.1 billion on a fixed-price contract for a Starliner that hasn't performed successfully even once. That's more than SpaceX has been paid for use of a Crew Dragon across 13 NASA Commercial Crew missions. Nevertheless, to incentivize Boeing to remain in this space race and not walk away from Starliner , NASA said Monday that it will pay Boeing an additional $359 million to help remodel Starliner to address its identified problems.
Add that to the tally, and Boeing will end up being paid $5.5 billionThat's quite a haul for Boeing, and it will go at least partway toward repairing the damage to Boeing's balance sheet from losses incurred on the Starliner program. Perhaps more important is what it could mean for Boeing's future. SpaceX appears committed to retiring both the Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon.
Starship, while a remarkable vehicle, is probably too big to dock with the ISS and take over Crew Dragon's role. There have been rumors of other companies planning to design their own crewed space vehicles that could take Crew Dragon's place. But right now, Boeing's troubled Starliner is actually probably the spacecraft closest to being ready to fulfill that role.
Strange as it sounds, thanks to its archrival SpaceX's decision to abandon ISS work -- and a bit of extra assistance from NASA --for investors to buy now… and Boeing wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Stock Advisorhas no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Boeing. The Motley Fool has a
Scratch the next story
NASA Boeing Starliner International Space Station Spacex Starship
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News: You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Boeing Starliner May Fly Again in December 2026, NASA SaysNASA and Boeing say the next Starliner flight could launch as early as December 2026, with a cargo test before astronauts return. The spacecraft has been grounded since 2024.
Read more »
NASA Has Been So Thoroughly Screwed by Boeing's Disastrous Starliner That It's Now Throwing Its Entire Access to Space Into QuestionWith SpaceX threatening to pull the rug out from beneath them, NASA could soon be doomed to make Boeing's plagued Starliner spacecraft work.
Read more »
Station Crew Expands as NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 Prepares to DepartThe Expedition 75 crew slept in Friday and spent the rest of the day relaxing following the Oct. 1 arrival of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-13 mission. The four new crew members, who arrived after a record-setting 7-hour, 55-minute Dragon spacecraft flight from Florida, bring the number of people living aboard the orbital outpost to 11.
Read more »
Heading Home: NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 Concludes Station Science MissionNASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission is ending, with the crew scheduled to return in early October. NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, ESA (European
Read more »