NASA announced on Monday that it will exercise options for two more crewed flights on Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft and will provide $359 million to help the company rebuild its reaction‑control system thrusters. The funding also supports certification of United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket for human missions, ensuring a continued U.S. pathway to low‑Earth orbit after SpaceX’s Crew Dragon is retired.
Funding and flight options
During a news conference, NASA’s Low‑Earth Orbit Program manager Dana Weigel said the agency will pay Boeing $359 million to complete a rebuild of the thrusters that overheated in flight. The payment is part of a broader effort to keep the commercial crew program viable as the Atlas V launch vehicle is phased out and SpaceX shifts focus to its next‑generation Starship system. NASA also confirmed it will exercise options to order two additional crewed Starliner missions, bringing the total number of contracted flights on the vehicle to six.
Starliner’s troubled path
Unlike SpaceX’s Dragon, which has carried NASA astronauts for more than six years, Boeing’s Starliner has faced a series of setbacks. Uncrewed test flights in 2019 and 2022 encountered numerous problems, and the first crewed test flight in June 2024 suffered thruster issues that nearly caused a catastrophic loss of the two astronauts aboard. The program has incurred over $2 billion in losses for Boeing, prompting speculation that the company might abandon the effort. NASA has already contributed $5.1 billion under the fixed‑price Commercial Crew contract, and the new $359 million allocation underscores the agency’s commitment to seeing the vehicle return to flight.
Future schedule and crew
NASA’s current manifest includes an uncrewed demonstration flight, Starliner‑1, which is slated for launch in December 2026 or January 2027. Three crewed missions are already under contract, with the first, Starliner‑2, targeted for mid‑2028. Veteran astronaut Woody Hoburg has been named commander of that mission. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman noted during the press briefing that SpaceX plans to sunset older platforms like Falcon and Dragon as it concentrates on Starship, making the continued development of Starliner and the upcoming Vulcan launch vehicle critical for maintaining independent U.S. access to orbit.
The agency’s actions signal a strategic effort to diversify launch options and avoid reliance on a single provider. By funding thruster repairs, certifying a new launch vehicle, and securing additional crewed flight slots, NASA aims to keep the commercial crew program robust through the transition period that will see both SpaceX’s Dragon and the Atlas V exit service.
Norman Pearlstine is the Executive Editor and Co-Founder at News Raise. With over two decades of experience across financial journalism, corporate governance, and market analysis, Norman leads the editorial direction and ensures strict adherence to journalistic accuracy and ethics.
