NASA and Boeing remain uncertain about when the CST-100 Starliner crew capsule will return to flight, with agency safety advisers suggesting the grounded spacecraft may not launch again for up to a year. The warning comes as both organizations continue making progress on resolving technical problems that have kept the vehicle on the ground since its last mission.
The safety advisory panel's assessment highlights the complexity of the certification process. While neither NASA nor Boeing has issued an official target date for the next flight, the panel's projection of a 12-month delay signals that significant engineering and testing hurdles remain. The exact scope of the corrective work has not been fully disclosed, but it involves addressing propulsion system and parachute issues identified during previous missions.
Starliner's last flight, a partially successful uncrewed test to the International Space Station, took place in May 2022. That mission revealed software and valve anomalies that prompted NASA to require additional fixes before the capsule can carry astronauts. The vehicle was initially expected to resume flights in early 2023, but those plans have repeatedly slipped.
The ongoing delay carries implications for NASA's Commercial Crew Program, which relies on both Boeing and SpaceX for crew transport to the ISS. SpaceX's Crew Dragon has been flying operational missions since 2020, while Starliner has yet to complete a crewed test flight. The uncertainty also affects Boeing's broader space ambitions, as the company seeks to demonstrate its ability to compete with newer private sector rivals.
The financial cost of the repeated delays has not been disclosed, but Boeing has previously absorbed hundreds of millions in charges related to the Starliner program.