TheTechno Optimist.

Boeing—Artemis II SLS core stage integrated with solid rocket boosters completeBoeing—SLS core stage performs nominal ascent, separates on scheduleBoeing—Space Launch System lifts off with Artemis II crewed mission

Starliner

by BoeingUS

Give NASA a second American way to fly astronauts to the Space Station besides SpaceX's Dragon, so crew flights never depend on a single vehicle.

PilotStage 3 of 5

Next flight: uncrewed cargo run Starliner-1, Dec 2026 to Jan 2027; first crewed rotation planned for 2028.

Checked 11 Oct0 updates this week

Milestones

Next · Starliner-1 uncrewed cargo flight
  1. Crew Flight Test launches with two astronautsJun 2024Complete.
  2. Test crew returns on SpaceX Dragon insteadMar 2025Complete.
  3. Contract cut to four flights; Starliner-1 made cargo-onlyNov 2025Complete.
  4. Contract update restores flights 5 and 6; Vulcan cleared for crew28 Sep 2026Complete.
  5. Starliner-1 uncrewed cargo flightTarget Dec 2026+8 mooriginally Apr 2026Current milestone.
  6. Starliner-2, first crewed rotation flightTarget 2028Not yet reached.

Upcoming

  1. Dec 2026Starliner-1 uncrewed cargo flight+8 mooriginally Apr 2026in about 7 weeks (next)
  2. 2028Starliner-2, first crewed rotation flight
Primer