A NASA inspector general audit released Tuesday indicates that Boeing's Starliner crew capsule is unlikely to receive certification for operational flights to the International Space Station until 2027, ten years later than the program’s original 2017 schedule. The report also notes that the first crewed flight may not occur until 2025, leaving only a narrow window before the ISS is slated for retirement in 2030, though Congress is considering an extension to 2032.
The delay follows problems uncovered during Starliner's 2024 test flight, which have yet to be fully resolved and documented. The audit outlines six recommendations aimed at getting the program back on track, all of which NASA has agreed to implement. Key actions include drafting a revised flight schedule that allows ample time to address the outstanding technical issues and ensuring that any deficiencies from the 2024 test are thoroughly corrected before further crewed missions proceed.
If the timeline holds, Starliner will miss most of the ISS’s remaining operational years, raising questions about the viability of the Commercial Crew Program’s reliance on the capsule for regular crew rotations.
