NASA and Boeing Outline Starliner Flight Plan, Including Uncrewed Test and Crew Missions

On September 28, 2026, NASA and Boeing announced a new schedule for the Starliner spacecraft. The plan includes an uncrewed Starliner‑1 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) in December 2026 or January 2027 to validate thermal modifications and gather flight data. Following that, a crewed Starliner‑2 flight is targeted for 2028. NASA will exercise options for a fifth and sixth ISS flight using Starliner and will work with United Launch Alliance to certify the Vulcan rocket after the Atlas V’s final flight. Boeing has added thermal changes to the service module and a new thruster valve design to address issues identified in the 2024 Crew Flight Test. The agency will also install new crew‑module thrusters, batteries, and parachute upgrades to support full system certification.