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NASA targets 2028 crewed Starliner return after uncrewed test and spacecraft upgrades

NASA and Boeing plan to fly an additional uncrewed Starliner test in 2026 before a potential astronaut mission in 2028, following problems during the spacecraft’s 2024 flight. The schedule also depends on spacecraft upgrades and certification of United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket.

Discovered 2026-09-30T04:51:54.001117-07:00 | 2026-09-30T04:51:54.001117-07:00

Briefing

What Hype is tracking

The revised plan pushes Starliner’s potential crewed return to 2028 and makes a new uncrewed test a prerequisite, extending NASA’s reliance on a prolonged development and validation path.
The program’s schedule depends on two parallel milestones: Starliner redesign and upgrade work and certification of ULA’s Vulcan launch vehicle.
For Boeing and NASA, the plan establishes a longer recovery timeline after the 2024 flight problems while preserving a path toward a second U.S. crew transportation system.

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