NASA is doubling down on Boeing’s Starliner program after a disastrous test flight left two astronauts stranded at the International Space Station for nearly a year. The agency announced Monday that it wants Boeing to launch a new, upgraded Starliner to the space station by December — carrying cargo but no crew — with astronauts expected to fly again only in 2028.
The decision puts NASA in the awkward position of spending hundreds of millions of dollars more on a spacecraft that has already failed spectacularly. But agency leaders say the path forward is clear, and they are confident the next Starliner will work.
Failed Test Flight
In 2024, Boeing’s Starliner capsule suffered multiple problems during a test flight designed to carry astronauts to the International Space Station. Instead of a smooth launch, the mission went badly wrong.
Two test pilots, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, ended up stuck at the station for nearly a year. NASA later reclassified the botched mission as a crew-endangering “Type A mishap,” its most severe ranking.
The failure was a blow to NASA’s broader plan to rely on commercial partners for routine space travel. The space shuttle program had retired years earlier, and NASA had paid billions to both Boeing and SpaceX for ferry service to keep American astronauts in orbit.
NASA’s New Plan
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman announced Monday that Boeing should be ready to launch a new and improved Starliner to the space station by December. The launch will carry cargo but no crew.
Astronauts will not strap in until 2028 because of the need for further safety redesigns that will take months, if not years, to complete. The delay reflects the seriousness of the original failure and the extent of the changes required.
Manager Dana Weigel stressed that everyone must be confident that all of Starliner’s problems have been resolved before putting astronauts back on board. The message from NASA leadership is consistent: fix it properly, even if it takes longer.
“We’re on the right path,” said NASA astronaut Woody Hoburg, who will command the next Starliner flight. Hoburg also praised the original test pilots, saying Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, now both retired, are “American heroes and I am deeply humbled to follow in their footsteps.”
The tone from NASA is one of determination rather than retreat. Isaacman said, “We always were committed to seeing this through with Boeing, and now we’re on a very good path.”
Cost of Redemption
The extra Starliner upgrades and new rocket certifications will cost NASA another $359 million, Weigel said. That brings the total investment in the program to billions.
Among the many fixes: new valves and seals. The source does not specify which systems failed in the 2024 mission, but the December cargo launch will serve as a test of whether those fixes hold.
The cargo-only approach allows NASA to diagnose any remaining issues without endangering human life. The source does not describe the cargo payload in detail.
SpaceX’s Advancing Position
While NASA focuses on salvaging Boeing, SpaceX is moving ahead on its own. The company intends to phase out its Falcon 9 rockets and Dragon capsules in another few years and focus on its newer, larger Starship.
Starship reached orbit for the first time Monday. The vehicle is far too big to dock with the International Space Station, but Musk has made moon and Mars travel the company’s overriding goals.
SpaceX’s progress raises a question NASA cannot ignore: if SpaceX can send crews to orbit, what is the rationale for maintaining two commercial providers?
Cargo Launch Timeline
Here is how the next few launches break down:
- December: Boeing launches a new and improved Starliner to the space station with cargo but no crew
- Later this week: SpaceX launches its 14th crew for NASA
- 2028: Astronauts will fly on Starliner again, pending completion of safety redesigns
The cargo launch in December is the key test. If it succeeds, the path to crewed operations opens. If it fails, the timeline stretches further.
Broader Context
The aging space station is due to be abandoned and deorbited by 2031. Several private U.S. companies are working on their own orbital outposts that will need reliable taxi service.
That market is one factor in NASA’s calculus, though the source does not spell out the full reasoning behind the agency’s commitment to Boeing.
| Provider | Status | Recent Milestone |
|---|---|---|
| Boeing | Upgraded Starliner coming in December | Cargo launch planned for December |
| SpaceX | Operational since 2020 | Starship reached orbit for the first time Monday |
| NASA | Partnering with both | 14th crew launch scheduled later this week |
The comparison shows where each company stands. Boeing is playing catch-up after a catastrophic failure. SpaceX is executing a long-term plan that moves beyond the Falcon 9 and Dragon hardware.
Paper’s View
The paper supports a lighter touch on technology and letting companies rise and fall on their own merits. In this case, that means a softer landing for Boeing than the full-throated support NASA is offering.
The paper’s position is straightforward: let companies fail, but do not abandon them entirely when the stakes are high. Boeing got the contract, and Boeing should deliver — but the taxpayer should not be asked to pay indefinitely for a spacecraft that cannot meet its own specifications.
The cargo launch in December will be a test of whether the fixes hold. If Starliner works, NASA will have bought its confidence back. If it fails, the 2028 timeline becomes a warning about the limits of government-funded recovery.
The paper’s side is clear: support Boeing, but do not overinvest. The cargo launch in December will reveal whether the repairs hold.
Where the paper stands
The paper backs the citizens and companies paying the bill for this spacecraft and is against the agency that keeps deciding it needs one anyway. The Starliner has already failed once, leaving two astronauts stranded at the space station for nearly a year, and NASA is now asking taxpayers to fund another $359 million in upgrades just to get cargo to orbit. The agency’s response is consistent: fix it properly, even if it takes longer. But the question remains whether the taxpayer should be on the hook for indefinite recovery when the contract was already awarded.
The cargo launch in December will be the test. If Starliner works, NASA will have bought its confidence back. If it fails, the 2028 timeline becomes a warning about the limits of government-funded recovery. The paper’s position is that companies should rise and fall on their own merits, and that means supporting Boeing but not overinvesting in a spacecraft that cannot meet its own specifications.
What readers should watch for is whether NASA treats this cargo launch as a real test or simply another step along a path that guarantees Boeing’s recovery, regardless of the outcome. The agency’s history suggests it leans toward the latter.
Source material: “NASA ramps up support to get Boeing’s astronaut capsule flying after Butch and Suni fiasco,” ABC13 Houston.
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